II  &  RAR.Y 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY 
OF    ILLINOIS 


974,8 


I  .H.S. 


NOTICE 

AFTER  CAREFUL  EXAMINATION  OF  THE 
INNER  MARGIN  AND  TYPE  OF  MATERIAL 
WE  HAVE  SEWN  THIS  VOLUME  BY  HAND 
SO  IT  CAN  BE  MORE  EASILY  OPENED 
AND  READ. 


, 


&BTTER8 


FROM 


THE  BRITISH  SETTLEMENT 


IN 


PENNSYLVANIA: 

To  which  are  added, 

fi  CONSTITUTIONS  OF  THE   UNITED  STATES,   AND 
OF  PENNSYLVANIA;  AND  EXTRACTS  FROM  THE 

LAWS     RESPECTING     ALIENS     AND 
NATURALIZED   CITIZENS. 


BY  C.  B.  JOHNSON,  M.  D. 


SontJon: 

PRINTED    FOR    JOHN     MILLER,     BURLINGTON     ARCADE, 
PICCADILLY^  AND  FOR   II.  HALL,  PHILADELPHIA. 



1819. 


Printed  \>j  W.  SMITH,  King  Street,  Seven  Dials. 


3.  \ 


THE 

BRITISH  EMIGRANT  SOCIETY 

TO 

THEIR  COUNTRYMEN. 


The  British  Emigrant  Society t  established  in  Sus- 
quehanna  county,  have  read  with  much  attention 
the  following  Letters,  from  one  of  their  members. 
They  have  carefully  examined  the  statements  con- 
tained in  them,  and  fully  concur  in  opinion  as  to 
their  correctness. 

The  object  of  the  Society  has  been  to  secure  an 
eligible  situation  for  their  countrymen  ;  and  by  ob- 
taining a  large  tract  of  land,  to  enable  them  to  set- 
tle together,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to  procure  the 
land  at  a  low  price.  In  this,  they  have  been  met 
by  the  liberality  of  the  proprietor,  who  was  pleased 

687983 


V  PREFACE. 

with  their  intentions,  and  desirous  of  promoting 
them.  As  the  Society  disclaim  all  speculations, 
they  invite  their  countrymen  to  the  spot,  which 
they  have  selected,  on  the  terms  of  their  contract ; 
requiring  only,  as  a  claim  to  the  privileges>hich  it 
ofFers,  that  those  who  come,  shall  bring  with  them 
a  good  moral  character. 

From  the  following  work  it  will  be  seen,  that  in 
Susquehanna  county  the  first  crop  usually  pays 
more  than  all  the  expenses  of  clearing  and  fencing 
the  land,  and  of  sowing,  harvesting,  and  threshing 
the  grain.  Consequently  the  clearing  of  land  is  a 
profitable  business.  That  land  encreases  rapidly 
in  value.  That  the  difference  or  saving  of  expense 
of  a  family  of  seven  persons,  young  and  old,  which 
together  with  the  sundry  articles  taken  with  them, 
should  weigh  a  ton  and  an  half,  going  to  Susque- 
hanna county ;  and  the  same  family  going  to  the 
state  of  Illinois,  in  the  western  part  of  the  United 
States,  is  sufficient  to  purchase  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  in  Susquehanna  county,  under 
the  Society's  contract. 

That  the  saving  of  a  mechanic,  with  a  family  of 
common  site,  bttweeu  the  expense  of  maintaining 


PREFACE.  T 

it  in  Philadelphia,  or  in  Susquehanna  county,  will 
in  one  year,  purchase  an  hundred  acres  of  land. 

That  the  produce  of  the  farmer  in  Susquehanna 
county  would  sell  for  double  the  amount  it  will 
bring  in  the  Western  states. 

That  the  work  of  the  mechanic  is  proportionally 
more  valuable. 

That  all  imported  articles  are  cheaper  than  in 
the  Western  states. 

That  the  settlement  is  removed  from  all  danger, 
in  case  of  war. 

That  it  has  the  advantage  of  provisions,  already 
raised  within  itself. 

That  materials  for  building,  and  for  furniture, 
are  abundant  and  cheap. 

That  taxes  are  scarcely  worth  naming,  and  that 
there  are  no  poor. 

That  the  situation  is  particularly  eligible,  from  its 
vicinity  to  good  markets ;  the  soil  of  a  good  quality, 
the  water  excellent,  and  the  climate  healthy. 

The  Society  have  laid  off  ground  for  a  town,  on 
one  of  the  turnpikes,  which  pass  through  their  pur- 
chase- A  half  acre  lot  on  the  turnpike,  cleared, 

will  be  given,  free  of  all  expense,  to  each  of  the  first 
A2 


Yi  PREFACE, 

fifty  mechanics  who  shall  build  a  house  on  the  same 
and  commence  his  trade.  Every  person  in  the 
town  is  at  liberty  to  build  his  house  or  shop  on  such 
a  plan,  and  of  such  a  size,  as  may  best  suit  his  con- 
venience or  his  purse ;  but  as  a  handsome  house 
may  be  built  at  as  small  an  expense  as  an  homely 
one,  the  Society  require  that  the  fronts  of  all  the 
houses  and  shops,  &c.  erected  in  the  town,  shall  be 
built  on  the  designs  furnished  by  their  architect, 
who  wjll  be  careful  to  accommodate  them  to  the 
sum  which  each  person  may  be  desirous  of  invest- 
ing in  his  buildings.  The  front  must  be  painted. 
The  sides,  back  and  interior,  may  be  finished,  or 
not,  as  the  person  concerned  shall  desire.  By  this 
regulation,  the  Society  hope  to  unite  utility  and 
beauty  in  their  establishments.  Ground  has  been 
given  for  the  situation  of  public  buildings,  and  a 
fund  appropriated  for  them,  which  it  is  believed 
will  be  sufficient  for  their  erection. 

It  is  the  wish  of  the  Society  to  introduce  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  good  farmers,  to  cultivate  the 
ground  in  the  manner  which  English  farmers  are 
accustomed  to,  and  to  settle  industrious  mechanics 
ic  towns,  iu  numbers  sufficient  to  consume  the  far- 


PREFACE.  Tii 

mer's  produce.  Factors  will  be  established  in  the 
cities  of  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  to  whom 
waggons  will  be  regularly  sent  with  such  of  the  ma- 
nufactured articles  as  it  may  be  desirable  to  sell  m 
those  places ;  and  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  back 
such  imported  articles  as  shall  be  necessary  for 
their  consumption.  The  advantages  of  such  an 
arrangement  for  both  farmers  and  mechanics,  must 
be  very  apparent.  Many  of  those  articles  of  light 
carriage,  on  which  thousands  of  mechanics  and 
manufacturers  are  employed  in  the  metropolis,  can 
be  made  at  the  Society's  establishment,  sent  to  the 
city,  and  sold  at  a  less  price  than  they  can  be  af- 
forded by  those  who  make  them  there.  The  supe- 
rior comforts  of  the  mechanic,  who  has  his  own 
bouse,  his  own  garden,  pasture,  and  wood  lots,  over 
him  wko  is  pent  up  in  the  city  throughout  the  year, 
and  lives  at  great  expense  for  house  rent,  fuel,  &c. 
are  very  obvious.  The  manufactured  articles  dis 
posed  of  in  the  country  are  generally  sold  at 
higher  price  than  they  bring  in  the  city.  But  in  case 
of  the  country  being  overstocked,  the  Society  con- 
template an  arrangement  with  their  factors,  which 
will  enable  them  to  make  advances,  if  the  article*' 


Viii  PREFACE. 

sent  to  them  shall  arrive  at  any  time  when  the  mar 
kets  are  dull,  so  that  the  members  of  the  Society 
will  have  a  further  advantage  in  thpir  sales,  over 
those  who  manufacture  the  same  articles  in  the  city. 
It  will  be  readily  seen,  that  the  result  of  this  ar- 
rangement must  be  a  good  market  in  the  farmer's 
neighbourhood  for  all  his  produce,  and  the  profit- 
able sale  of  all  the  result  of  the  mechanic's  labour* 
Instead,  therefore,  of  the  necessity  of  taking  to  the 
cities  such  heavy  articles  as  flour,  beef,  butter  and 
cheese,  they  will  appear  there,  metamorphosed 
into  some  of  the  light  effects  of  the  mechanic's  skill. 
If  the  affairs  of  the  Society  shall  be  conducted 
with  a  well-ordered  exactness,  and  if  the  spirit  of 
harmony  shall  preside  over  the  conduct  of  their 
members,  as  there  is  good  reason  to  hope,  the 
Society  may  look  forward  with  confident  expecta- 
ion  to  a  British  settlement  of  unexampled  pros- 
\vJrity,  where  the  farmer's  industry,  stimulated  by 
i  exemption  from  his  former  burthen  of  taxes 
,jid  tythes,  shall  be  rewarded  by  encreasing  com- 
forts, and  the  consciousness  of  being  able  to  bring 
up  his  children  with  a  good  education,  and  to 
leave  them  with  ample  possessions;  and  where 


PREFACE.  IX 

each  mechanic,  surrounded  by  his  garden,  his 
pasture  and  wood  lots,  may  rival  the  prosperity 
and  ease  of  the  farmer. 

The  Society  wish  sedulously  to  guard  their  coun- 
trymen from  coming  to  them  with  the  absurd  hope 
of  finding  a  place  where  idleness  may  repose  itself, 
while  the  earth  shall  produce  its  fruits  spontane- 
ously. They  know  that  many  have  been  led  to  the 
United  States  by  such  visionary  expectations ;  but 
such  persons  they  do  not  wish  to  see,  and  would 
not  receive  as  their  associates;  the  happiness  and 
prosperity  of  the  Society  must  depend  on  the  in- 
dustry and  general  good  conduct  of  all  its  members. 


CONTENTS. 


LETTER  I. 

Arrival  in  the  United  States — Settlers  returning  from 
the  West— Cobbett's  "  Year's  .Residence"— Advanta- 
ges of  settling  near  a  market — Favourable  accounts 
of  Susquehanna  county — Makes  a  large  purchase- 
Terms  13—21 

LETTER  II. 

Objects  in  selecting  a  settlement — Comparison  between 
the  prices  of  produce  in  Illinois  and  Susquehanna — 
Manners  of  the  Western  people — Proneness  to  quar- 
rel— Security  of  the  British  Settlement — The  port- 
folio— Erratic  disposition  of  the  Americans — Grist 
mills  and  saw  mills — Price  of  farms 21 — 31 

LETTER  III. 

Boundaries  of  Susquehanna  county — Face  of  the  coun- 
try— Soil — Forest  trees — Bushes — Maple  sugar — • 
Beer — Fruit — Salt— Iron — Population 32 — 39 

LETTER  IV. 

Rivers — Valley  of  Wyoming  ^-Campbell's  Poem — Fish- 
ing—Walton, the  angler — Lakes — Canals  •  •  •  •  39 — 42 

LETTER  V. 

Game — Deer— Bears— Wolves—- Elks— Foxes—  Phea- 
sants— Ducks— Teal— Game  Laws  42 — 44 


CONTENTS. 


LETTER  VI. 

Manner  of  clearing  land — Rapid  increase  of  value — 
Prosperity  of  settlers — Cultivation — Philadelphia  So- 
ciety for  promoting  Agriculture — Expense  of  cultiva- 
tion— Profits  on  crops — Rent,  taxes,  stock,&c.  of  a  faim 
in  England,  compared  with  the  purchate  of  the  same 
property  in  Susquehanna  county — Mr.  King's  speech 

44—58 

LETTER  VII. 

Houses — Barns — Mills — Fences — Hedges  ••••   58 — 62 

LETTER  VIII. 

Cattle— Sheep — Mr.  B  irkbeck— Corn — Oats — Buck 
wheat — Potatoes — Carelessness  of  American  farmers 
— Rise  of  value — The  policy  of  Pennsylvania — Go- 
vernor's speech 63 — 73 

LETTER  IX. 

Price  of  labour — Expense  of  living  in  Philadelphia  com- 
pared with  the  cost  at  the  British  Settlement— Castle 
of  Indolence — Mechanics  73 — 79 

LETTER  X. 

Roads— Road  to  the  British  Settlement—Letters,  how 
to  be  addressed 79—83 

LETTER  XI. 

No  STATE  TAXES  in  Pennsylvania — American  coins — 
No  poor— New  York — The  Courier — Labourers — En- 
glish revenue 83—86 


Xii  CONTENTS. 

LETTER  XII. 

Climate — ArthurYoung — Cobbett — Mortality — Musqui- 
toes— Brissot — Diseases  of  the  Western  Country— 
Volney,  Latham,  Schultz,  &  Breckenridge  •  •  86 — 97 

LETTER  XIII. 

Manners — Literature — Public  Library — Partiality  for 
England — Yankee— Marriage — Education — Religion 
— Slavery — Robbery — Mendicity—Indians — Idleues- 
— Politics — The  navy — The  army — American  andBri- 
tish  Sailors — Versatality  of  the  Americans — Netf 
Orleans— General  Jackson — Mr.  Ames's  speech— * 
General  Packenham — Mutual  interest  of  Great  Bri- 
tain and  the  United  States — British  manufactures— 
Elections—Caucus—Stability  and  extent  of  the  Unioi< 

97_ -iir, 
LETTER  XIV. 

Remarks  on  Birkbeck's  Letters — Price  of  Land — Law- 
yers—Turbulent Character — Moss  Troopers — Con 
tempt  of  Religion — Unhealthiness — Parching  heat- 
Expense  of  travelling — Conclusion 116—121) 

Extract  from  the  Village  Record •  •  •  •  •  132—136 

APPENDIX. 

The  Constitution  of  the  United  States 1 3T 

The  Constitution  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Penn- 
sylvania   •  • 167 

Act  of  Assembly  enabling  Aliens  to  hold  lands  ••  180 

Directions  to  persons  who  with  to  become  citizens  ih. 


LETTERS,  &c. 


LETTER  I. 

British  Settkment,  Sutquehanna  County,  Pennsylvania^ 


MY   DEAR    FRIEND, 

MY  last  letter  was  dated  at  Philadelphia,  a 
short  time  after  my  arrival  there,  and  detailed  the 
few  occurrences  of  my  voyage,  and  the  favourable 
impressions  which  were  made  by  the  appearance 
of  that  city.  You  will  have  seen  by  that  letter,  that 
my  intentions  with  regard  to  a  settlement  in  the 
western  part  of  the  United  States,  were  much  af- 
fected by  the  unfavourable  accounts  which  I  had 
received  from  some  of  our  countrymen,  who  had 
returned  from  thence,  after  a  journey  of  nearly 
three  thousand  miles,  (going  and  coming)  by  land. 
I  was,  indeed,  so  disheartened  by  these  representa- 
tions, that  I  was  almost  tempted  to  commence  the 
practice  of  my  profession  in  Philadelphia,  and  give 
up  all  thoughts  of  the  country.  You  will,  however, 
be  surprised  to  find  this  letter  dated  from  Susque- 
hanna  county,  in  Pennsylvania,  instead  of  Phila- 
delphia, Illinois,  or  Indiana. 
B 


14  PRELIMINARY    ENQUIRIES. 

This  intention  of  encountering  so  toilsome  a 
journey,  in  order  to  judge  for  myself  of  the  "  Wes- 
tern Country,"  as  it  is  here  called,  was  formed 
very  much  on  the  principles  of  "  Hobson's  choice ;" 
for  in   some   way,   which   is  to   me   now   unac- 
countable,  we  had  been  led  into  an  opinion,  that 
the  only  part  of  the  United  States  for  an  English- 
man to  go  to,  was  the  western  wilderness.     Of  the 
error  of  this  opinion  I  was  convinced  in  a  short  time 
after  my  arrival,  by  an  inspection  of  the  farms  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Philadelphia,  and  a  reflection 
on  the  great  advantages  of  vicinity  to  markets;  ad- 
vantages which  I  readily  saw  a  farmer  must  relin- 
quish, who  settles  in  any  part  of  the  United  States^ 
beyond  the  mountains.     At  this  period,  I  met  with 
a  little  work  published  by  Mr.  Cobbett,  since  his 
last  visit  to  this  country,  called,  "The.  First  Part  of 
a  Year's  Residence  in  the  United  States  of  America" 
which  I  send  you  with  this.     You  will  find  in  it  a 
diary  of  the  weather;  together  with  many  useful 
practical  observations,  detailed  in  a  plain  and  easy 
manner.    Mr.  Cobbett  has  shown  the  advantage  of 
farming  on  this  side  of  the  mountains ;  and  while  I 
felt  a  growing  disposition  to  avoid  the  prairies,  or 

flats,  of  the  Illinois,  our  friend  S mentioned  to 

me,  that  the  lands  of  Susquehanua  county,  in  this 
state,  and  within  a  short  distance  of  Philadelphia 
and  New-York,  had  been  very  favourably  spoken 

of  by  Mr.  V ,  a  highly  respected  gentleman  of 

Philadelphia,  of  whose  philanthropy  and  benevo- 
lence most  of  the  Englishmen  who  arrive  there  can 


PRELIMINARY    ENQUIRIES.  15 

bear  witness.    Mr.  S ~  directed  me  to  a  Mr. 

Young,  an  Englishman,  then  in  Philadelphia,  who 
had  been  to  what  he  called  Mr.  Rose's  settlement, 
in  Susquehanna  county,  and  who  could  therefore 
give  me  correct  information  about  it.  I  called  on 
Mr.  Young,  and  found  his  account  to  be  very  fa- 
vourable respecting  the  soil  and  climate ,  and  that 
he  intended  to  settle  there.  Mr.  Y.  described  the 
land  as  being  of  a  good  quality,  the  country  healthy, 
the  water  plentiful  and  excellent,  and  the  timber  of 
great  variety :  that  there  were  about  five  hundred 
families,  mostly  from  the  New  England  States,  on 
Mr.  R.'s  tract ;  a  number  of  grist  and  saw  mills, 
and  four  post-offices  on  it :  that  Montrose,  the  seat 
of  justice  for  the  county,  was  170  miles  from  Phila- 
delphia, and,  by  a  turnpike  now  making,  it  would 
be  about  130  miles  from  New- York :  that  mea- 
sures have  been  also  taken  for  making  another 
turnpike  in  nearly  a  due  south  direction  to  Phila- 
delphia, which  will  lessen  considerably  the  pre- 
sent distance :  that  the  Susquehanna  river  was  na- 
vigable from  the  vicinity  of  the  tract  to  Baltimore : 
the  price  of  the  lands  on  the  turnpikes  was  six  dol- 
lars, and  for  those  back  from  them,  five  dollars 
per  acre ;  that  the  title  was  indisputable,  and  a 
deed  of  general  warranty  given :  that  several  of 
the  settlers  on  the  tract,  who  were  desirous  of  get- 
ting their  neighbours  to  settle  near  them,  and  who 
were,  doubtless,  good  judges  of  land,  had  given  a 
statement  of  the  quality,  from  which  he  bad,  when 
on  the  spot,  copied  the  following : 


16  PRELIMINARY    ENQUIRIES. 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  have  purchased  farms  on 
the  lands  of  Robert  H.  Rose.  The  soil  is,  gene- 
rally, of  a  good  quality,  deep,  and  lasting;  and  the 
situation  very  favourable,  on  account  of  a  market 
for  our  produce.  (Signed  by) 

Daniel  Gaige,  Alpheus  Finch,  Isaac  Howard, 
Mortimer  Gaige,  Abraham  Gaige,    Joseph 
Whipple,  Philip  GrifFeth,  Peleg  Butts,  Charles 
Davies,  Christian  Shillop,  Nathan  Brewster, 
John  Griffiths,  Jonathan  Ellsworth,  Henry 
Ellsworth,  Jacob  Bump,  George  Bump,  Bela 
More,    Joseph  Addison,   Charles    Chalker. 
Daniel    Chalker,    Seth    Baldwyn,    Richard 
Daniels,  Ephraim  Fancher,  Zephania  Cornell, 
Benjamin  Fancher,  Caleb  Bush,  Asa  Bald- 
wyn, Samuel  Baldwyn,  Thurston  Carr,  Isaac 
Soule,  Hiel  Tupper,  Jabez  A.  Birchard,  David 
Owen,  Jeremiah  Glover,  Albert  Camp,  H.  P. 
Corbiu,  D.  Taylor,  Lemuel  Walbridge,  Leman 
Turrel,  Camfield  Stone,  Philo  Bostwick,  Sal. 
inon  Bradshaw,  Billings  Babcock,  Robinson 
Bolles,  Zenas  Bliss,  Jon.  C.  Sherman,  Philo 
Morehouse,  Reuben   Faxen,  Darius  Bixby, 
Asahel  Southwell,  Asa  Brown,  Edward  Cox, 
Peter  Brown,  Daniel  Chamberlain." 
All  this  seemed  to  be  good  authority,  and  as  there 
were  at  that  time  in  Philadelphia,  many  of  our 
countrymen,  whose  object  was,  like  our  own,  the 
selection  of  an  eligible  spot  for  their  abode,  it  was 
thought  prudent  to  call  them  together,  and  unite 
the  information  we  had  received  of  various  places, 


PRELIMINARY    ENQUIRIES.  17 

in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  choose  that  one  which 
would  be  best  for  a  tc  British  settlement,"  and  in 
which  could  be  combined  advantages  for  both  far- 
mers and  mechanics. 

For  this  purpose,  a  number  of  persons  interested, 
met  at  the  Chester  and  Montgomery  hotel,  in  Phi- 
ladelphia, a  house  kept  by  Mr.  Davis,  an  English- 
man. The  impressions  amongst  all  who  met,  ap- 
peared to  be  very  unfavourable  to  a  settlement  in 
the  Western  States,  in  consequence  of  the  various 
information  that  had  been  received,  from  different 
sources,  as  well  as  from  several  of  our  own  country- 
men, who  had  returned  dissatisfied  with  the  priva- 
tions of  society,  and  the  loss  of  many  comforts  to 
which  they  had  been  accustomed,  which  they  found 
they  would  be  compelled  to  endure  in  a  settlement 
there. 

At  this  meeting,  it  was  deemed  to  be  of  great  im- 
portance to  find  a  suitable  situation  for  the  contem- 
plated establishment,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
mountains,  and  within  a  reasonable  distance  from 
some  of  the  sea-ports,  in  which  all  the  surplus  pro- 
duce of  the  mechanic's  labour  might  be  vended, 
where  the  toil  of  the  farmer  would  be  rewarded 
by  a  good  price  for  his  produce,  and  where,  in 
consequence  of  the  country  not  being  filled  with 
settlers,  land  might  yet  be  had  at  a  low  price. 

I  found  the  favourable  impression  I  had  of  Sus- 
quehanna  county,  corroborated  by  the  information 
which  several  who  attended  this  meeting  had  re- 
ceived of  it ;  aud  it  was  resolved  unanimously,  that 
B2 


18  PRELIMINARY    ENQUIRIES. 

a  letter  should  be  written  to  Mr.  Rose,  to  ascertain 
the  terms  on  which  he  would  sell  his  lands  to  a  so- 
ciety of  British  emigrants.  The  time  that  elapsed 
before  the  receipt  of  his  answer,  was  spent  by  me 
in  endeavouring  to  add  to  the  information  I  had 
acquired  of  the  United  States  generally,  and  parti- 
cularly, in  reading  the  journals  of  different  persons 
who  had  travelled  over  the  western  parts  of  them, 
on  the  waters  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  to  which 
my  attention  had  been  directed  previous  to  my  lear- 
iug  England.  I  found  these,  generally,  to  repre- 
sent those  portions  of  the  country  in  terms  very 
different  from  the  language  of  Mr.  Birkbeck,  whose 
"  Notes"  had  been,  in  some  degree,  the  occasion  of 
my  voyage  across  the  ocean.  On  receiving  an 
answer  from  Mr.  Rose  to  our  communications,  a 
meeting  of  the  British  emigrants  was  again  con- 
vened, and  it  was  determined  that  a  committee  of 
five,  (of  whom  I  was  one,)  should  immediately 
proceed  to  Susquehanna  county,  and  examine  the 
lands  carefully,  ascertain  the  quantity  which  could 
be  procured,  and  on  their  return,  make  a  report 
of  the  situation,  soil,  water,  &c.  and  of  the  various 
advantages,  or  disadvantages,  which  it  would  offer 
to  the  contemplated  settlement.  In  pursuance  of 
this  resolution,  we  came  here,  and  diligently  and 
carefully  investigated  the  different  objects  to  wh'ch 
our-attention  had  been  directed,  and  which,  as  you 
will  have  perceived,  v.  ere  precisely  the  same  as 
those  on  which  my  instructions  had  been  founded, 
before  I  left  my  native  land.  The  result  of  th« 


SUSQUEHANNA   COUNTY.  19 

investigation  by  the  committee  was,  an  unanimous 
opinion  in  favour  of  this  place,  as  affording  all  the 
essential  requisites  for  a  British  settlement. 

We  were  treated  with  much  kindness  lay  Mr. 
Rose,  who  was  pleased  with  our  objects,  which  he 
thought  would  be  very  useful  to  the  county,  and 
even'to  the  state ;  and  with  this  view  he  gave  us  a 
contract  for  his  lands,  at  a  price  much  below  what 
he  had  sold  for  some  time  past,  and  lower  than  any 
other  land  is  selling  in  the  county.  Since  his  set- 
tlement in  this  county,  he  has  made  it  a  rule  to  sell 
to  none  but  actual  settlers,  and  in  his  contract  with 
us,  he  has  enjoined  a  perseverance  in  the  same  rule, 
and  the  obligation,  that  for  twelve  months  from  the 
date  of  our  contract,  we  shall  keep  the  land  open, 
on  the  same  terms  we  received  it,  for  any  of  our 
own  countrymen  who  may  be  desirous  of  joining  us, 
and  who  shall  bring  good  moral  characters  with 
them.  These  were  precisely  the  intentions  of  the 
meeting  in  Philadelphia,  which  in  seeking  a  place  of 
settlement  for  British  emigrants,  disclaimed  all  ob- 
jects of  speculation,  and  sought  only  to  procure  an 
eligible  situation,  in  all  the  benefits  of  which  their 
countrymen  might  participate.  The  committee  were, 
therefore,  much  pleased  that  Mr.  Rose  had  taken 
the  same  view  of  the  subject,  and  advised  the  mea- 
sures on  which  they  had  previously  resolved. 

The  following  are  the  terms  of  our  contract, 
made  15th  Nov.  1818,  in  distinct  propositions,  with 
a  view  either  to  the  whole  or  a  part  of  the  lands, 
about  forty  thousand  acres,  as  shall  be  found  most 
convenient  to  the  society. 


20  PRICE   OF   LAND, 

For  the  whole — 

1st.  Four  dollars  per  acre,  [13  shil.  stg.]  one 
tenth  part  paid,  and  the  remainder  with  interest, 
in  nine  equal  annual  instalments  ;  or,  2d.  Three  dol- 
lars fifty  certs  per  acre,  one  fifth  part  paid,  and  the 
remainder  in  four  equal  annual  instalments ;  or,  3d. 
Three  dollars  per  acre,  to  be  paid  within  one  year. 

Or,  in  parts  to  suit  individual  settlers — 

The  lots  on  the  turnpikes,  five  dollars  per  acre : 
the  lots  back  from  the  turnpikes,  four  dollars  per 
acre.  Interest  to  commence  at  this  date,  one  eighth 
part  of  the  principal  to  be  paid  within  twelve  months, 
and  an  eighth  part  annually  afterwards.  If  the 
whole  of  the  price  of  any  lot  be  paid  for  within  the 
first  year,  an  abatement  of  one  dollar  per  acre  to  be 
made.  The  society  to  proceed  to  settle  their  mem- 
bers on  the  latter  terms ;  but  to  have  the  privilege 
of  closing  the  contract  for  the  whole,  should  they  be 
desirous  of  doing  so,  according  to  either  of  the  three 
first  propositions;  provided  their  desire  be  ex- 
pressed to  that  effect  within  twelve  months. 

It  should  be  particularly  noticed  in  this  negotia- 
tion, that  we  sought  the  proprietor,  and  that  he 
neither  laid  in  wait  for  us,  nor  did  he  allure  us  by 
captivating  accounts  of  Elysian  fields.  We  found 
in  him  a  gentleman  of  elegant  manners  and  known 
integrity ;  who  offered  the  best  recommendation  of 
his  lands  in  the  simple  fact  that  he  had  built  an 
elegant  mansion  in  the  midst  of  them,  and  had  re- 
sided there  for  several  years. 

I  shall  now  proceed  to  lay  before  you  all  the  in- 


SELECTION    OP  SETTLEMENT.         21 

formation  that  I  have  acquired  respecting  the  soil, 
climate,  manners,  &c.  of  this  interesting  section  of 
the  United  States. 


LETTER  II. 

Selection  of  Settlement,  fyc. 

IN  the  selection  of  a  place  of  residence  in  a  new 
country,  it  is  very  important  to  take  into  view  the 
ultimate  market  for  the  farmer's  produce.  While 
the  country  is  settling,  there  will  be  no  difficulty  on 
this  score;  for  the  encreasing  population  will  de- 
mand all  the  supplies  that  can  be  raised.  But  the 
prudent  settler  will  look  beyond  that  period,  and 
consider  what  he  is  to  do,  when  every  one  shall 
raise  more  grain  than  he  will  be  able  to  consume. 
In  that  case,  vicinity  to  market,  and  facility  of 
transportation,  are  all  important.  The  immense 
distance  which  grain  has  to  be  sent  from  the  wes- 
tern states,  occasions  the  expense  to  be  so  great,  as 
to  reduce  extremely  the  profits  of  the  farmer. 
This  is  particularly  the  case  in  all  articles  of  much 
weight,  and  all  the  farmer's  produce  comes  withi' 
that  description ;  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  on 
bushel  of  wheat  here,  is  worth  one  and  a  half  i 
the  western  part  of  this  state,  and  two,  or  more, 


22  VALUE   OF   PRODUCE. 

the  states  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois;  the  only 
important  market  for  those  states  is  New  Orleans ; 
the  distance  to  which  is  upwards  of  one  thousand 
miles  from  the  nearest  part  of  Illinois,  and  still  fur- 
ther from  Indiana  and  Ohio.  The  value  of  the 
different  articles  in  Susquehanna  and  in  the  Illinois, 
will  be  more  easily  seen  by  the  following  statement 
of  the  prices.  Those  of  the  Illinois  I  collect  from 
Mr.  Bhkbeck's  "  Notes"  on  that  country. 


SUSQUEHANNA. 

D.  C. 

Wheat  per  bushel        1  60 

Indian  Corn    do.        1  00 

Oats                 do.        0  50 

Hay  per  ton                  7  .00 

Butter  per  lb.               0  15 

Cheese  per  Ib.             0  10 

Fowls  per  couple         0  25 


ILLINOIS. 

D.  C. 

Wheat  per  bushel  0  75 

Indian  Corn    do.  0  21 

Oats  do.  0  31 

Hay  per  ton,  7  80 

Butter  per  lb.  0  11 

Cheese  per  lb.  0  25 

Fowls  per  couple  0  20 


The  same  cause  which  tends  to  lessen  the  value 
of  the  articles,  which  the  farmer  raises  in  the  wes- 
tern states,  and  which  he  has  for  sale,  operates 
equally  to  increase  the  dearness  of  those  which  are 
imported,  and  which  he  has  to  purchase.  The 
shop-keeper,  who  is  at  a  great  distance  from  the 
place,  where  the  articles  he  deals  in  are  procured, 
will  add  to  the  price,  when  he  disposes  of  them,  the 
additional  expense  of  bringing,  and  the  time  lost  in 
procuring  them.  To  him,  who  is  obliged  to  take  a 
journey  of  a  thousand  miles  to  procure  the  articles 
that  are  to  fill  his  warehouse,  the  cost  and  the 
trouble  must  be  very  great;  and  that  cost  and 


VALUE   OP   PRODUCE.  23 

trouble  he  expects  to  be  paid  for,  by  the  consumer. 
The  journey  which  he  is  annually  compelled  to  take, 
is  a  very  serious  one,  compared  to  that  of  the  shop- 
keeper of  Susquehanna  county,  who  can  go  to  New- 
York  and  back  again  in  four  days.  The  latter,  in 
consequence  of  his  situation,can  trade  with  a  smaller 
capital  than  the  former ;  because  he  can,  at  any 
time  procure  a  supply  of  those  articles  of  which  he 
is  in  immediate  need  ;  while  the  former  can  lay  in 
a  supply  only  once  a  year.  All  these  difficulties  are 
to  be  paid  for  by  the  farmers  and  mechanics,  who 
consume  the  articles  imported  ;  and  the  difference 
to  them,  in  the  course  of  a  twelvemonth,  by  re- 
ceiving less  for  the  articles  they  sell,  and  paying 
more  for  t/iose  which  they  purchase,  will  be  found  to 
be  very  great.  It  is  not  merely  the  quantum  he 
shall  raise,  but  the  sum  he  shall  get  for  it,  which 
constitutes  the  farmer's  advantage.  It  is  not  sim- 
ply to  get  enough  to  eat  and  drink,  that  is  to  bound 
the  desires  of  the  farmer;  it  is  to  procure  the 
means  of  converting  his  log  cabin  into  a  handsome 
and  convenient  house ;  to  erect  a  large  barn  for 
his  grain,  and  suitable  buildings  for  his  cattle ;  to 
educate  his  children,  and,  as  he  grows  old,  to  enjoy 
the  satisfaction  of  rinding  that  his  industry  has 
supplied  the  comforts  of  life,  and  enabled  him  to 
satisfy  the  wants  of  society— wants  to  which  we 
are  indebted  for  the  amelioration  of  mankind. 
Perhaps  it  is  even  worse  for  the  morals  of  the  set- 
tier,  distant  from  a  market  where  he  can  exchange 
the  articles  in  which  he  abounds,  for  those  of 


24  VALUE  OF   PRODUCE* 

which  he  is  in  want,  that  he  is  placed  upon  a  fertile 
soil.  The  fertility  gives  him  abundance ;  and  he 
cannot  dispose  of  his  surplus.  The  consequence* 
is,  a  want  of  stimulus  to  industry,  He  finds,  that 
the  labour  of  three  days  in  the  week,  will  support 
his  family,  and  he  will  not  work  six ;  for  the  pro- 
duce of  the  other  three  will  be  of  no  service  to 
him.  He  cannot  build  his  house,  his  bam,  nor 
his  granary  with  it.  Hence,  he  becomes  idle.  He 
finds  neighbours  like  himself.  He  takes  his  gun, 
and  goes  into  the  woods  to  hunt,  or  to  some  neigh- 
bouring log  house  at  which  whiskey  is  sold,  and 
where  lie  is  sure  to  find  persons  in  his  own  situa- 
tion, led  there  by  the  same  feelings  which  govern 
him ;  with  those  he  consumes  his  time,  shooting  at 
marks,  or  matching  his  miserable  horse  to  run 
against  some  other  miserable  horse ;  and  thus  the 
day,  that  in  more  fortunate  situations  would  have 
been  spent  in  healthful  industry,  is  squandered  in 
riot  and  intemperance.  It  is  reasonable  to  expect 
such  consequences  to  flow  from  the  situations  I  have 
mentioned;  and  such,  I  have  been  assured  by 
intelligent  travellers,  is  the  case.  I  do  not  rest  on 
the  narration  of  our  own  countrymen,  who  have  re- 
turned dissatisfied  with  the  western  wilderness. 
American  travellers  themselves  are  obliged  to  ac- 
knowledge the  universal  prevalence  of  these  ruinous 
habits.  That  we  should  find  a  proneness  to  quarrel 
in  minds  that  have  shaken  off  the  salutary  restraints 
of  society,  is  to  be  expected.  Even  Mr.  Birkbeck, 
who  has  been  so  fortunate  as  to  find  quarrelling 


WESTERN    MANNERS.  25 

rare,  mentions  the  case  of  a  member  of  a  religious 
community,  who/*  on  being  brought  before  the  spi- 
ritual court,  for  indulging  a  propensity  to  boxing, 
and  hearing  all  the  arguments  derived  from  texts 
of  Scripture,    which  oppose   that   unchristian 
practice,  declared  that  he  should  not  like  to  live 
longer  than  he  had  a  right  to  knock  down  any 
man  who  told  him  he  lied."    Mr.  Schultz,  in 
his  description  of  the  country  near  St.  Louis,  on  the 
Mississippi,  ia  the  immediate  neighbourhood   of 
Illinois,  mentions  that   "  it  is  a  very  unpleasant 
"  place  of  residence,  as  the  continual  broils  and 
"  quarrels  amongst  the  workmen,  as  well  as  the 
*'  proprietors,  keep  up  a  constant  scene  of  warfare. 
"  You  would  certainly  feel  yourself  in  very  suspici- 
"  ous  company,  were  you  to  discover  that  most  of 
"  those  amongst  whom  you  were,  wore  a  concealed 
"  dagger,  and  sometimes  even  two,  one  in  the  bosom, 
"  and  another  under  the  coat ;  whilst  others  carried 
"  a  brace  of  pistols  in  the  girdle  behind  the  back. 
"  I  have  heard  of  a  number  of  quarrels  since  I  have 
"  been  here,  and  of  two  or  three  being  wounded 
"  by  pistol  shot,  but  no  lives  were  lost;  which  has 
*'  rather  been  owing  to  a  precipitancy  of  firings  rhari 
want  of  inclination  to  kill.     It  is  not  always  that 
an  honourable  challenge  takes  place  on  account 
of  an  affront  or  difference  of  opinion  ;  but  an  in- 
stantaneous plunge  of  the  dirk,  or  a  pistol  to  your 
face,  is  the  first  signal  of  war.  They  have  however 
become  so  naturalized  to  these  ideal  dangers,  that 
of  three  shots  made  within  two  yards  of  the  object, 
•  C 


26  WESTERN    MANNERS. 

"  none  was  followed  by  any  thing  more  serious  than 
"  the  loss  of  three  fingers  on  one  hand,  and  a  hole 
"  through  the  lower  part  of  the  crown  of  a  hat, 
"  grazing  the  skin  and  hair.  This  bad,  or  good 
"  luck,  is  owing  to  the  activity  of  the  antagonist, 
"  who  is  generally  aware  of  his  opponent's  inteu- 
"  tion,  and  prepared  to  knock  his  pistol  up  with  his 
"  own,  as  soon  as  it  is  presented.  Rifle  barrelled 
"  pistols  are  altogether  used  at  this  place,  and 
"  likewise  at  Genevieve ;  and  pistol  shooting  at  a 
"  mark  for  wagers,  seems  to  be  a  very  general  kind 
"  of  amusement  among  the  people." 

Much  more  of  this  kind  might  be  quoted  from 
American  authors,  and  I  should  prefer  quoting 
from  them  ;  for  we  cannot  suspect  them  of  having 
any  intention  to  deceive,  especially  when  they  speak 
against  the  habits  of  their  own  countrymen,  in  par- 
ticular places  ;  but  I  have  already  adduced  enough 
to  convince  you  that  the  western  part  of  theUnitec 
States  is  a  pface,  if  report  speak  correctly  of  it, 
that  would  promise  nearly  as  much  work  for  a  sur- 
geon as  a  physician.  At  any  rate  these  representa- 
tions from  so  many  sources,  were  sufficient  to  in- 
duce *ne  to  set  my  face  another  way,  and  to  make 
me  seek  to  discover  a  place,  where  a  husbandman 
might  find  sufficient  inducements  to  call  forth  his 
industry, 

"  and  hear 

At  distance  safe,  the  human  tempest  roar, 
Wrapt  close  in  conscious  peace." 


SECURITY    OF   SETTLEMENT  27 

This  is  completely  the  case  in  Susquehanna  county, 
where,  I  am  informed,  that  during  the  late  war  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  "  its 
disturbances  were  known  only  by  the  arrival  of  the 
mail."*  How  different  is  this  from  the  frontier  situa- 
tion of  the  western  states,  whose  infant  settlements 
are  always  exposed  to  the  scalping  knife  of  the 
savages  !  In  ruy  estimation  of  the  advantages  which 
different  places  might  offer  to  settlers,  security 
would  be  a  most  important  consideration.  That  de- 
sideratum is,  I  think,  possessed  in  the  greatest  pos- 
sible degree  by  this  place,  which  is  equally  remote 
from  dangers  by  sea  and  by  land ;  being  surrounded 
on  all  sides  by  countries  thickly  populated.  A  per- 
fect wilderness  should  be  avoided  by  an  English- 
man. The  Americans  alone  appear  calculated  to 
commence  a  settlement.  They  make  excellent  pio- 
neers.and  overcome  difficulties  in  the  "wild  woods," 
which  an  Englishman  could  not  encounter.  A  jour- 
ney of  two  or  three  days  to  a  mill,  is  nothing  to 
them  ;  even  a  journey  of  a  thousand  miles,  is  but  as 


*  This  remark  is  quoted  from  a  description  of  Mr. 
Rose's  possessions  in  this  county,  with  an  engraved 
view  of  his  mansion,  which  appeared  in  "  the  Port 
Folio,"  for  June,  1816.  This  miscellany,  published 
monthly,  is  edited  by  J.  E.  Hall,  Esq.  and  was  com- 
menced in  the  year  1801.  It  may  be  procured  in  London, 
of  the  publisher  of  theseLetter*,and  it  deserves  the  atten- 
tion of  an  emigrant,  on  account  of  its  sketches  of  life  and 
manners  and  other  particulars  respecting  this  country. 


28  ERRATIC    DISPOSITION. 

a  step  to  visit  a  friend.  It  is  fortunate  for  a  country, 
possessing  such  a  boundless  territory,  the  arm  of  one 
of  whose  rivers  extends  to  a  distance  as  great  as 
from  my  native  place  to  the  one  in  which  I  am  now 
writing,  that  her  children  are  of  so  erratic  a  dispo- 
sition, as  to  consider  her  amplitude  as  a  narrow 
limit.  But  although  all  this  is  extremely  well  for  an 
American,  it  is  much  better  for  English  settlers  to 
confine  themselves  to  a  reasonable  distance  from 
the  sea  ports  ;  and  to  endeavour  to  procure  a  situa- 
tion in  a  country,  in  which  the  toils  of  a  first  settle- 
ment have  already  been  encountered  and  overcome. 

For  this  reason  it  is,  that  my  selection  has  been 
made  of  lands  interspersed  in  all  directions,  with 
improvements,  where  good  roads  are  already  made, 
and  where  grist  and  saw  mills,  and  other  machi- 
nery, are  erected. 

In  the  immediate  neighbourhood,  for  which  the 
company  have  contracted,  there  are  five  grist  mills, 
and  thirteen  saw  mills.  The  great  advantage  of 
these,  and  of  the  roads,  which  are  made  in  all  di- 
rections through  the  lands,  I  need  not  mention. 
The  English  farmer  having  been  accustomed  to 
good  roads  at  home,  can  ill  brook  those  which  he 
will  find  in  any  wilderness.  Here  are  turnpike 
roads  leading  to  the  two  most  important  cities  of 
the  United  States,  laid  out  and  much  labour  done 
on  them;  and  there  is  every  prospect  that  they 
will  be  completed  in  another  season. 

There  is  a  point  of  time  in  the  settling  of  new 
countries,  in  which  purchases  by  such  a  company 


SUSQUEHANNA    COUNTY.  2& 

as  ours,  can  be  best  made.  To;a  perfect  wilderness 
there  is  an  objection,  in  the  difficulty  and  uncer- 
tainty of  forming  a  settlement ;  and  many  would  find 
it  very  unpleasant  to  endure  the  privations  which 
must  necessarily  be  experienced  by  a  residence 
there.  When  nearly  all  the  land  is  settled,  the 
small  remainder  is  held  at  a  high  price ;  but  at  an 
intermediate  point  of  time,  when  a  considerable 
part  of  the  land  is  occupied,  the  quality  of  the  soil, 
and  the  real  value  of  the  country  ascertained,  the 
difficulties  of  the  first  improvements  overcome, 
grain  raised,  mills  built,  roads  made,  and  the  n^ces- 
saries,  and  many  of  the  comforts  of  life  to  be  ob- 
tained— this  is,  undoubtedly,  the  most  eligible  time 
for  a  man  to  pitch  his  tent ;  for  the  land  which  has 
not  yet  been  appropriated,  may  generally  be  had 
at  a  price  very  low,  in  proportion  to  its  real  worth, 
estimated  by  the  farmer's  profit, — which  is  its  in- 
trinsic value. 

I  have  mentioned  the  settlements  or  improve- 
ments, with  which  the  lands  contracted  for  by  the 
society  are  interspersed.  The  greater  part  of  these 
can  be  purchased,  at  a  fair  price,  from  the  present 
occupants  who,  being  paid  for  what  they  have  done, 
are  ready  to  commence  anew.  It  may  be  better  for 
many  emigrants  to  purchase  these  improvements, 
than  to  take  new  lands.  They  can  be  had  in  farms 
of  various  sizes,  from  twenty  to  an  hundred  acres 
of  cleared  land,  with  a  house  and  barnt  These 
buildings  are,  in  general,  made  of  logs,  and  wheD 


30  PRICE   OF    FARMS. 

that  is  the  case,  are  of  little  value ;  but  in  some  in- 
stances they  are  of  a  better  kind,  being  made  of 
framed  timber,  and  boarded. 

The  sum  at  which  improvements  are  estimated, 
depends  upon  the  care  with  which  the  lands  are 
cleared,  and  the  kind  of  house  and  barn  on  them, 
in  addition  to  the  price  of  the  land.  As  a  general 
rate,  a  farm  of  one  huudred  acres  of  land,  one  half 
of  it  cleared,  with  a  common  log  house  and  barn  on 
it,  would  be  estimated  at  from  225J.  to  270/.  or  from 
one  thousand  to  twelve  hundred  dollars.  This 
however  may  alter  very  soon ;  and  will  be  likely 
to  increase  rapidly,  in  consequence  of  our  settle- 
ment, and  the  money  which  will  be  brought  into  the 
country  by  us.  Such  is  the  price  at  which  impro- 
ved lots  (of  which  I  have  made  several  purchases) 
are  at  present  sold.  By  the  purchase  of  an  improve- 
ment, an  emigrant  will  be  at  once  able  to  keep  his 
cattle  and  horses ;  he  will  have  pasture,  meadow, 
and  plough  land ;  and  can  purchase  new  lands  ad- 
joining, and  increase  his  clearings  to  what  size  he 
pleases.  In  this  manner  he  may  commence  bis 
farming  with  very  little  of  the  inconvenience,  and 
all  the  advantage  of  a  new  settler ;  and  the  new 
lands  which  he  can  purchase  on  the  terms  of  the 
society's  contract  will  answer  for  the  establishment 
of  his  family  around  him.  I  have  devoted,  and  shall 
continue  to  devote,  much  of  my  time  to  the  acqui- 
sition of  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  extent, 
quality  and  value  of  these  improved  lots,  amounting 
to  several  hundreds,  in  order  to  point  out  to  those 


PRICE    OP    FARMS.  *£1 

of  our  countrymen  who  prefer  making  purchases 
of  that  kind  of  property,  such  as  will  best  suit  their 
different  tastes ;  so  that  each  one  may  be  accom- 
modated in  the  way  he  prefers  ;  and  I  shall  spare 
no  pains  in  the  business,  for  I  have  the  welfare  of 
the  settlement  very  much  at  heart,  which  derives  the 
more  interest  from  its  being  the  first  BRITISH 
SETTLEMENT,  attempted  on  a  large  scale,  in  the 
United  States.  It  will  therefore  be  useful  for  all 
those  who  are  desirous  of  purchasing  improvements, 
to  make  their  applications  either  through  the  society 
at  Philadelphia,  or  directly  to  me  at  this  place.  I 
can  then  make  the  desired  purchases  for  them,  or 
provisional  contracts,  to  be  ratified  within  a  rea- 
sonable length  of  time,  after  the  applicants  shall 
have  seen  and  approved  of  the  lots. 


32  BOUNDARIES. 


LETTER  III. 


Boundaries — Face  of  the  country  -  Soil— ~  Forest 
trees —  Bushes — Cultivated  fruits — Minerals,  fyc. 


SUSQUEHANNA  county  is  situated  in  the  42c 
degree  of  north  latitude,,  on  the  line  which  divide: 
Pennsylvania  from  the  state  of  New  York.  It  com 
mences  about  six  miles  from  the  Delaware  river 
and  runs  west  thirty-four  miles,  and  south  twenty 
four  miles.  On  the  north  it  is  bounded  by  the  stat< 
of  New  York  ;  on  the  south  by  Luzerne  county ;  01 
the  east  by  Wayne  county ;  and  on  the  west  ty 
Bradford  county. 

The  face  of  the  country  is  very  picturesque 
There  is  no  fiat  land  ;  it  is  all  in  undulations.  Rivu 
lets  and  springs  are  in  the  greatest  abundance.-— 
There  is  no  farm  and  scarcely  a  field,  without  s 
stream  or  spring  in  it  of  excellent  water,  and  a: 
clear  as  crystal.  There  are  no  stagnant  waters 
DO  swamps,  nor  marshes,  nor  musquitoes,  whicl 
abound  so  much  in  many  other  parts  of  the  Unitec 
States. 

The  soil  is  deep— that  is,  generally,  from  one  t< 
two  feet ;  in  some  places,  three  or  four  feet.  Be 


SOIL,   CULTURE.  S3 

neath  this,  there  is  an  inferior  stratum,  or  sub-soil, 
composed  of  clay  and  extremely  fine  silicious  sand, 
intimately  commingled.  By  us  it  would  be  called 
stony ;  but  the  stones  lie  almost  entirely  on  the 
surface,  are  easily  removed,  and  will  be  very  useful 
for  buildings  and  walls.  I  have  taken  particular 
notice  where  trees  have  been  taken  out  by  the 
root,  and  at  the  sides  of  the  turnpike  roads  where 
the  ditches  are  dug,  that  it  is  rare  to  find  any  stones 
beneath  the  surface.  I  am  told  that  some  of  the 
settlers  from  the  eastern  states,  who  have  been  ac- 
customed to  stone  walls  round  their  fields,  say  that 
there  are  not  stones  enough  ;  I  should  be  satisfied 
with  less.  Of  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  the  usual  crops 
offer  a  strong  evidence ;  for  if  a  farmer  in  England 
was  to  put  his  grain  into  the  ground,  in  the  manner 
it  is  generally  done  here,  I  should  calculate  upon 
his  having  a  very  diminutive  harvest.  In  this  coun- 
try there  is  little  or  no  alluvial  soil  deposited  by  the 
overflowing  of  the  rivers  or  brooks.  It  is  a  common 
remark,  and  it  accords  with  my  own  observations, 
that  the  soil  is  deeper  on  the  tops  of  the  hills  than 
in  thevallies.  As  it  does  not  wash  off,  the  hills  re- 
tain all  their  native  fertility.  You  see  no  traces,  or 
furrows,  worn  by  the  waters.  In  the  western  part  of 
the  United  States,  where  extensive  flats  of  alluvial 
soil  are  formed  on  the  rivers,  the  hills  are  propor- 
tionably  poor,  being  robbed  of  the  soil,  which  is  de- 
posited on  the  flat,  or  bottom.  In  most  of  the  waters 
of  the  western  states,  during  floods  or  freshets,  there 
is  a  reflux,  or  eddy,  formed  at  the  margin  of  the  usual 


34  WESTERN    RIVERS,   TREES. 

water  courses,  aiid  the  soil  brought  down  from  the 
hiils  i§  deposited  in  the  greates  oundance  on  the 
bank,  which  usually  confines  the  current ;  conse- 
quently, the  bank  is  higher  than  the  land  back  from 
the  river,  where  the  bottom  joins  the  hill.  The  re- 
sult is,  that  when  the  river  retires  within  its  banks, 
an  extensive,  but  narrow,  pond  is  left  along  the  has* 
of  the  hill ;  and  as  the  hot  weather  gradually  dries 
it  up,  a  pestilential  miasma  is  formed,  which  pro 
duces  bilious  and  intermittent  fevers,  and  all  then 
train  of  horrors.  In  Susquehanna  county  nothing  oi 
that  kind  is  found.  I  cannot  learn  of  a  single  in- 
stance of  fever  and  ague  having  occurred  within  it, 
I  see  no  sallow,  sickly  looking  complexions.  Everj 
log  hut  abounds  with  children,  whose  brown  faces 
indicate  health  and  hardihood.  This  is  a  bad  place 
you  will  say  for  my  profession.  I  am  very  happy  thai 
it  is  so.  I  came  to  seek  for  land ;  and  shall  be  more 
pleased  to  practice  farming  than  phlebotomy.  I  do 
not  however,  intend  to  give  up  my  profession  till  one 
of  my  son^  shall  be  able  to  take  it  off  my  hands ;  foi 
physicians  are  necessary  evils  in  all  countries. 

I  have  measured  many  of  the  forest  trees,  in 
order  to  be  exact  as  to  their  height.  It  is,  in  gene- 
ral, about  eighty  feet.  Many  are  much  higher  ;  but 
that  is  the  common  altitude.  The  white,  or  silver 
pine  overtops  all  the  other  timber,  and  grows  to  the 
height  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  and  from  six 
to  twelve  feet  in  circumference.  The  hemlock 
spruce  also  grows  to  a  large  size ;  but  not  so  high 
as  the  pine.  The  diameter  of  the  beech  is  from  one 


TREES,    BUSHES  85 

>  two  feet ;  the  birch,  larger.  Chesnut  is  found 
:arly  twenty  feet  in  circumference,  very  straight, 
id  sixty  feet  to  the  lowest  limbs.  White  oak, 
;arly  as  large.  The  wild  cherry  grows  large,  and 
rnifure  is  made  from  it  resembling  mahogany. — 
he  curled  maple  affords  also  a  beautiful  wood  for 
rniture,  of  the  fine  and  silky  appearance  of  satin 
aod.  I  have  observed  the  following  kinds  of  tim- 
:r,  viz.  beech  of  two  or  three  varieties ;  sugar 
aple  (acer  saccharinum)  and  several  other  species 
5  the  acer  Pennsylvanicum,  rubrum,  3fc.) ;  hem- 
ck  spruce  (pinus — abies  Americana) ;  chesnut, 
fferent  from  the  English,  the  nuts  small,  but  very 
>od ;  cherry  of  two  kinds  (prunus  cerasus  Vir~ 
niana  et  montana) ;  white  and  black  ash ;  oak  ; 
lite  pine  ;  linden  (tilia) ;  elm  ;  button  wood  (pla- 
nus  occidental^  :  cucumber  tree  (magnolia  acu- 
\nata) ;  crab  apple,  dog  wood  (cornus  Florida); 
ckory  (juglans  alba  ovata) ;  black  walnut  ( jug- 
fis  nigva) ;  butternut  (juglans  oblo?iga  alba) ; 
•rnbeam  (caprinus  ostrya) ;  locust  (robinid) ;  wild 
um  ;  poplar;  tulip  treQ(liriodendrori);  sassafras ; 
d  service  tree  (sorbus  Americana).  Among  the 
ishes  are  blackberries  of  several  kinds,  currants, 
oseberries,  raspberries,  elder,  hawthorn,  laurel, 
ither  wood,  (dirca  palustris] ;  hazlenut,  sumach 
two  kinds,  and  the  rose.  You  will  observe  that 
e  currants,  gooseberries,  and  raspberries  all  grow 
Id  in  the  woods.  There  is  also  a  small  grape 
lich  ripens  late,  and  is  acid  :  perhaps  those  of  a 
ore  generous  kind  would  flourish  if  they  were 


86  TIMBEfi,   SUGAR    MAPLE. 

cultivated.  The  bills  in  this  country  are  all  covered 
with  timber.  You  see  none  bare.  Along  the  Sus- 
quehanna  river,  there  is  a  belt  of  oak  timber  which 
extends  back  from  it  for  three  or  four  miles ;  you 
then  pass  into  what  are  called  the  beech  woods,  which 
are  composed  of  various  kinds  of  timber,  but  take 
their  name  from  that  which  predominates.  In  the 
latter  the  soil  is  much  superior  to  the  former,  both 
as  to  depth  and  quality ;  the  oak  lands  having  a 
thin  and  gravelly  soil,  while  the  beech  timber  grows  < 
in  a  deep  loam.  From  the  ashes  formed  by  burning 
the  timber  in  their  clearings,  the  new  settlers  might 
derive  a  handsome  profit,  by  the  manufacture  of 
pot  and  pearl  ashes  ;  but  this  is  neglected,  and  the 
ashes  are  suffered  to  be  blown  away  by  the  winds, 
or  washed  off  by  theTains.  Great  profit  mightalso 
be  made  by  the  manufacture  of  sugar,  from  the  sap 
of  the  sugar  maple  ;*  and  it  is  now  made  to  an  ex- 
tent equal  to  the  wants  of  the  country  ;  but  it  might 
be  manufactured  for  exportation.  There  is  a  great 
abundance  of  the  sugar  maple  in  this  country,  and 
HI  HoweH's  large  map  of  Pennsylvania,  this  part 
i*  designated  as  abounding  in  that  valuable  trte.  It 
is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  forest.  But  not- 
withstanding its  great  usefulness,  it  is  cut  dowa  in- 
discriminately with  the  others.  A  proof  of  the  ad- 
vantage that  may  be  derived  from  it,  was  exempli- 
fied by  one  of  our  countrymen  whom  we  found  set- 


*  See  the  process  in  Evelyn'a  "  Sylva,"  vol.  1.  p.  188. 


SUGAR   MAPLE,    FRUIT.  37 

tied  here.  He  purchased  of  Mr.  Rose  a  lot  of 
eighty-four  acres,  and  before  he  began  his  work  of 
clearing,  he  tapped  a  number  of  the  sugar  maple 
trees  on  the  lot ;  and  the  price  of  the  sugar  which 
he  made  in  three  weeks,  amounted  to  two  thirds  of 
the  price  he  was  to  pay  for  the  whole  lot.  This 
you  will  observe  was  done  before  a  tree  had  been  cut 
down  on  the  lot,  except  what  was  necessary  to  boil 
the  sugar.  Maple  sugar  is  much  like  that  pro- 
duced from  the  cane ;  but  for  many  purposes  I 
think  it  pleasanter;  and  the  person  who  uses  it 
has  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  it  is  clean, 
which,  it  is  probable,  is  frequently  far  from  being 
the  case  with  that  which  is  made  by  the  slaves  of 
the  West  Indies ;  or  indeed,  by  slaves  any  where. 
The  usual  time  of  making  it  is  at  the  breaking  up 
of  winter,  when  cold  nights  are  succeeded  by  warm 
days ;  a  season  when  there  is  but  little  to  occupy 
the  farmer.  It  is  not  unusual  for  a  family  to  make 
half  a  ton  in  two  or  three  weeks.  The  sugar  mak- 
ing season  seldom  lasts  longer  than  that  time.  One 
of  the  first  things  a  settler  should  do  is  to  plant 
an  orchard,  and  in  a  very  short  time  he  may  eat 
his  own  fruit,  and  drink  his  own  cider. 

In  all  the  old  settled  parts  of  the  United  States, 
fruit  is  in  such  great  abundance  that  the  traveller 
is  permitted  to  take,  without  ceremony,  whatever 
he  pleases. 

Beer  is  seldom  made  or  used  in  the  country  parts 
of  the  United  States.  We  shall,  doubtless,  intro- 
duce it ;  which  may  be  easily  done ;  for  good  bar- 
D 


38  STONES,   HALT,    IRON. 

ley  is  raised  here,  and  hops  grow  wild.  Apples 
pears,  plums  and  cherries  thrive  well.  Peaches 
are  not  so  good  as  in  the  southern  states,  although 
the  trees  last  longer.  Perhaps  the  inferiority  of 
the  fruit  may  in  some  degree  be  in  consequence  of 
want  of  care  respecting  the  kind  ;  for  I  do  not 
find  any  grafted.  The  trees  are  all  raised  from  the 
stones.  However,  as  this  tree  was  originally 
brought  from  a  southern  climate  (mala  Ptrsica), 
the  presumption  is  that  it  finds  in  Maryland  or 
Virginia  a  more  congenial  situation.  Susquehanna 
is  in  the  secondary  formation.  The  stone  is  prin- 
cipally grej  or  reddish  shistose  sandstone,  and 
clay  slate,  in  some  instances  mingled  with  a  small 
proportion  of  calcareous  earth ;  but  I  believe  none 
has  been  found  in  which  the  latter  predominates. 

On  some  of  the  branches  of  Wyal using,  one  of 
the  streams  of  this  county,  there  is  an  appearance 
of  salt ;  and  a  small  quantity  has  been  made  very 
pure  and  white.  It  is  supposed,  that  it  might  be 
manufactured  extensively  and  profitably.  Some 
persons  are  now  at  work,  in  digging  a  well  for  it 
on  the  waters  of  Silver  Creek.  The  salt  at  pre- 
sent used  here,  is  brought  from  the  salt  works  in 
the  state  of  New.York,  a  distance  of  eighty  miles 
to  the  north  of  this,  where  it  is  made  in  great 
quantities,  and  sold  at  half  a  dollar  per  bushel. 

Small  specimens  of  iron  ore  have  been  shown  to 
me,  and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  jnore  might 
be  found  if  search  were  made  below  the  surface. 
In  one  place,  for  more  than  a  mile  in  extent,  the 


COAL,    RIVERS.  39 

needle  of  the  surveyor's  compass  cannot  be  made 
to  traverse ;  yet  no  one  has  been  at  the  trouble  to 
search  for  the  cause.  I  do  not  know  of  any  coal 
in  this  county ;  but  near  the  southern  boundary  of 
it,  coal  resembling  the  Welch  culm,  or  Kilkenny 
coal,  is  found  in  great  abundance. 

Susquehanna  was  formed  into  a  county  in  1812, 
and  there  are  now  within  its  limits,  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  ninety-seven  taxables  ;  which, 
at  a  computation  of  five  and  one  third  inhabitants 
to  each  taxable,  and  which  I  am  informed  is  a  com- 
mon one,  give  ten  thousand  one  hundred  and  se- 
venteen inhabitants  within  the  limits  of  the  county. 

From  this  statement  you  will  see,  that  you  are 
not  invited  to  a  wilderness. 


LETTER  IV. 

llivers,  Streams,  and  Lakes. 

THE  Susquehanna  river  rises  in  the  state  of 
New-York,  and  runs  nearly  a  south  course,  till  it 
passes  the  Pennsylvania  line,  about  twelve  miles 
from  the  Delaware  river.  It  then  turns  to  the 
west,  and  repasses  the  state  line,  near  the  twentieth 
milestone  ;  and  after  receiving  the  Chenango  and 


40  RIVERS,   STREAMS,    LAKES. 

Owego  rivers,  it  turns  again  to  the  south,  and  en- 
tering Pennsylvania  near  the  fifty-seventh  mile- 
stone, continues  a  general  south  course,  passing 
Harrisburg,  the  seat  of  government  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, till  it  enters  into  the  Chesapeake  Bay.  In 
its  course  it  receives  several  other  rivers  as  tribu- 
taries. It  is  a  clear  and  beautiful  river,  but  rather 
too  shallow  when  the  waters  are  low.  In  the 
spring  and  autumn,  immense  quantities  of  grain, 
boards,  timber,  salt,  and  gypsum,  are  sent  down  it 
to  market.  There  are  many  flourishing  villages 
on  its  banks.  One  of  these,  called  Wilkesbarre, 
is  beautifully  situated  in  the  valley  of  Wyoming, 
which  has  been  immortalized  in  the  song  of  one  of 
our  poets.  But 

"  On  Susquehanna's  side,  fair  Wyoming,1* 

is  now  so  safe  from  Indian,  or  any  other  warfare, 
that  perhaps  there  is  not  an  inhabitant  of  the  val- 
ley, who  could  be  induced  to  believe  that  all  the 
powers  in  the  pay  of  the  allied  sovereigns  could 
reach  it,  if  the  attempt  were  made  in  hostile  array. 
On  looking  at  the  map,  you  will  perceive  that  the 
Susquehanna  makes  a  large  bend  round  this  coun- 
ty, from  which  the  streams  flow  into  it  in  all  direc- 
tions. From  a  field  within  half  a  mile  of  me,  the 
eye  can  trace  the  line  of  hills  the  whole  extent  of 
this  great  sweep,  which  on  the  north  is  twelve 
miles,  on  the  west  thirty,  and  the  same  distance  on 
the  south.  The  small  streams  are  very  abundant; 


RIVERS,   STREAMS,    LAKES.  41 

and  there  are  a  number  of  beautiful  little  lakes,  of 

various  sizes,  from  half  a  mile  to  a  mile  long. — 

These  are   generally  at  the  heads  of  the  streams  ; 

where  the  hills,  sloping  gradually,  form  a  kind  of 

basin.     Their   waters    are  extremely  pure,  and 

abound  with  fish  of  different  sorts,  as  the  trout, 

perch,  pike,  sunfish,  chub,  mullet,  catfish,  and  eel. 

The  rivulets,  or  brooks,  are  in  the  United  States 

called  creeks ;  and  in  this  county  their  waters  are 

as  pure  as  the  springs.    Trout  abound  in  them,  as 

may  be  best  seen  by  the  result  of  a  day's  fishing 

with  the  rod  and  line,  in  the  outlet  of  Silver  Lake, 

by  two  gentlemen,  at  three  different  times.    The 

first  time,  they  caught  twenty-seven  dozen ;  the 

second  time,  twenty  dozen ;  and  the  third  time, 

thirty-five  dozen  and  an  half.     If  old  Walton  were 

alive,  this  would  be  enough  to  bring  him  to  Sus- 

quehanna.    There  is  no  hard  water  here ;  every 

stream  will  wash ;  and  the  thirsty  traveller  may 

drink  pleasantly  of  every  brook  or  lake. 

It  is  considered  to  be  of  immense  advantage  to 
Philadelphia,  to  draw  the  produce  of  the  lands 
watered  by  the  Susquehanna  to  that  city ;  and  dif- 
ferent companies  have  been  incorporated  by  the 
legislature  for  the  purpose  of  uniting  that  river 
with  the  Delaware  and  Schuylkill,  which  flow  by 
the  wharves  of  Philadelphia.  Much  labour  has 
been  done  on  a  canal,  intended  to  connect  their 
branches  ;  and  companies  are  now  engaged  in  im- 
proving the  Schuylkill,  Lehigh,  and  different  rivers 
D  2 


42  GAME. 

on  the  rout,  by  darns  and  locks  ;  which  promise  to 
be  very  successful  in  their  result. 

It  is  not,  therefore,  by  our  own  labour  alone,  that 
we  are  likely  to  be  benefited  ;  the  legislature,  as 
well  as  individuals,  are  actually  employed  in  faci- 
litating the  means  of  transporting  our  produce  to 
the  sea  side,  from  which  our  distance  is  now  but 
a  ride  of  two  or  three  days. 


LETTER  V. 

Game. 

DEER  are  very  numerous  in  the  woods,  and 
frequently  commit  depredations  on  the  young 
grain.  Venison,  indeed,  is  so  abundant,  as  to  be 
the  cheapest  meat  here.  You  will  get  the  best 
haunches  for  two  pence  per  pound.  Deer  are 
commonly  shot  with  a  rifle  ball,  or  chased  by  dogs  ; 
in  which  case,  it  is  usual,  in  order  to  avoid  their 
pursuers,  to  betake  themselves  to  seme  stream  or 
lake.  In  the  latter  case,  they  are  easily  overtaken 
by  means  of  a  boat.  There  appears  to  be  a  great 
certainty  in  talung  them,  whenever  they  are  wanted, 
in  this  way ;  for  I  heard  a  hunter,  whom  Mr. 
Rose  sometimes  employs,  say,  that  he  brought  his 
dog  to  Silver  Lake,  twelve  times  last  fall,  and  each 


GAME.  43 

time  caught  a  deer.  There  is  a  good  deal  of 
amusement  for  a  sportsman  in  this  watery  chase ; 
but  I  cannot  say  I  have  felt  that  spirit  of"  sublime 
elevation  of  soul'*  which  we  are  told,  in  the  Guide 
to  the  Lakes  of  Killarney,  induces  a  thorough 
bred  sportsman  there  "  in  his  raptures  and  ecsta- 
cies,  so  far  to  forget  himself,  as  to  jump  out  of  the 
[boat."  I  am  assured  that  the  deer  are  as  abun- 
[daut  now,  as  they  were  at  the  first  settlement  of 
the  county ;  and  this  is  attributed  to  the  disappear- 
ance of  their  enemies,  the  wolves.  Deer  usually 
have  two  fawns  at  a  time ;  and  these  are  so  easily 
tamed,  that  on  being  caught  when  very  young, 
and  carried  a  few  hundred  yards,  they  will  imme- 
diately follow  you.  The  facility  with  which  they 
are  tamed,  1  should  not  have  credited,  had  I  not 
derived  my  information  from  unquestionable  au- 
thority. 

Bears  and  wolves,  which  once  were  numerous 
in  this  part  of  Pennsylvania,  are  now  seldom  heard 
of.  They  have  retired  before  the  population ;  so 
have  also  the  elks,  which  once  inhabited  these 
woods,  as  is  proved  by  their  immense  horns  being 
sometimes  found.  Foxes  are  in  great  numbers, 
and,  as  at  home,  are  frequent  marauders  in  the  hen 
roosts. 

Pheasaqts,  different  from  and  smaller  than  ours, 
are  plenty  ;  partridges  are  scarce.  Wild  pigeons 
commonly  visit  this  place  in  the  spring  and  autumn, 
when  their  numbers  are  truly  astonishing.  Flocks 
of  them  are  sometimes  seen,  so  large  as  to  contain 


44  CLEARING    OF    LAND. 

millions  ;  their  flesh  is  dark,  and  when  fat,  very 
good.  Ducks  and  teal,  at  particular  seasons,  fre- 
quent the  Jakes.  Woodcocks  are  in  abundance 
amongst  the  bushes.  As  to  hunting,  shooting,  and 
fishing,  I  suppose  I  need  not  tell  you  that  they  are 
free  to  all ;  and  that  the  man  would  be  called  a 
great  churl,  who  should  forbid  any  one  to  catch 
game  on  his  grounds,  or  fish  in  his  waters* 


LETTER  VI. 

Clearing  of  Land,  fyc. 

THE  common  mode  of  clearing  land  in  this 
place,  is  by  first  cutting  the  underwood,  or  brush, 
close  to  the  ground.  The  timber  is  then  cut 
down,  as  much  as  possible  in  one  direction,  and 
into  lengths  of  about  twelve  feet.  A  few  months 
after,  sometimes  immediately  after,  fire  is  set  to 
the  collected  mass,  which  generally  burns  up  all 
the  limbs  and  small  stuff,  leaving  the  logs.  Two 
or  three  men  then  go  with  a  pair  of  oxen,  and 
haul  the  logs  which  ar«  left,  into  piles.  They  are 
again  set  on  fire,  and  in  this  second  burning  con- 
sumed. When  the  timber  is  cut  down,  ready  for 
burning,  it  is  called  a  fallow.  The  piling  of  the 
logs  is  done  during  the  day,  and  they  are  set  on 


CLEARING   OF    LAND.  45 

fire  towards  evening,  and  generally  suffered  to 
burn  unattended  during  the  night ;  at  which  time 
the  burning  piles  on  several  acres,  present  a  very 
t>rilliant  spectacle  ;  and  when  seen  with  the  con- 
sciousness of  this  being  the  first  step  in  the  con- 
version of  the  wild  into  cultivated  fields,  the  re- 
flection is  attended  with  no  small  share  of  interest 
in  the  scenery. 

I  am  surprised  to  see  so  little  taste  shown  in 
clearing  land  here.  No  reservation,  or  selection,  is 
made  of  groves  to  serve  hereafter,  as  shelter  from 
the  sun,  for  both  man  and  beast.  These  beautiful 
woods  are  indiscriminately  hewn  down  and  cast 
into  the  fire ;  and  it  is  left  to  another  generation  to 
find  out  the  inconvenience  of  this  general  destruc- 
tion of  the  timber.  With  a  little  care  in  the  com- 
mencement of  an  improvement,  the  most  delight- 
ful groves  could  be  left,  interspersed  with  the  fields ; 
nothing  is  requisite  but  to  leave  them.  What  a 
treat  it  would  be  to  a  landscape  gardener  in  Eng- 
land, to  have  such  cutting  and  carving !  What 
would  not  Price,  Gilpin,  Repton,  or  Capability 
Brown  have  given  for  such  materials  to  work  with, 
instead  of  being  obliged  to  plant  saplings  for  other 
ages  to  admire  as  trees;  or  what  would  even  your 
burgesses  and  freeholders  give  for  such  logs  of  fine 
timber  as  are  here  consumed,  to  cleave  into  posts 
and  rails  to  divide  their  lands  at  the  enclosure  of 
their  hills.  The  very  refuse  of  an  acre  would  be 
worth  more  than  is  paid  for  hundreds  of  acres  of 
the  land  here. 


46  CLEARING  OF  LAND. 

Besides  the  beauty  of  what  1  mention,  much  ad- 
vantage would  he  derived  to  the  farmer  from  the 
practice  of  leaving  groves  interspersed  with  his 
fields,  for  the  time  when  timber  shall  become 
scarce,  as  it  must  in  a  few  years ;  and  the  wood  be 
considered  valuable  as  fuel.  What  delightful  ave- 
nues might  be  formed,  what  vistas  cut  by  the  hand 
of  taste  !  Some  traveller  describes  an  American, 
who,  on  landing  on  a  part  of  England  or  Ireland, 
which  was  remarkably  destitute  of  trees,  exclaimed, 
if  What  a  charming  country  this  is,  without  any 
woods  to  intercept  one's  view  !**  and  from  what  I 
see,  I  am  induced  t£  think  the  story  a  very  true  one ; 
for  I  am  sure  there  are  many  here  that  would  cry, 
**  how  charming  the  country,  if  there  were  no  woods 
in  it!"  To  a  new  settler  the  sound  of  the  axe  is  the 
cheering  indication  of  comfort  and  competence ;  and 
if  idleness,  or  a  fondness  for  hunting,  as  is  too  fre- 
quentlv  the  case  with  this  class  of  men,  seduces 
them  from  their  business,  in  a  way  which  the  indus- 
trious habits  of  an  English  farmer  would  not  allow, 
it  is  only  one  of  the  many  proofs  before  my  eyes,  of 
the  ease  with  which  every  man  may  support  his 
family  here.  The  close  calculations  which  an 
English  farmer  is  obliged  to  make  of  the  probable 
result  of  his  labour,  appear  to  these  people  to  be  in- 
credible; and  they  cannot  conceive  a  state  of  things, 
in  which  it  is  necessary  to  ascertain  the  price  which 
grain  is  likely  to  bringat  the  ensuing  harvest,  in  or- 
der to  know  how  much  rent,  per  acre,  he  can  afford 
to  give  for  his  farm.  Indeed,  accuracy  of  calcula- 


INCREASE    OF   PROPERTY.  47 

tion  is  little  thought  of.  A  common  way  of  purchas- 
ing a  farm  here  is  this;  a  person  goes  to  the  owner 
and  makes  a  contract  for  a  lot  of  one  or  two  hun- 
dred acres,  to  be  paid  for  in  a  certain  number  of  an- 
nual instalments.  He  has  no  money,  perhaps  no 
kind  of  property ;  he  goes  to  work  for  a  few  days  in 
the  neighbourhood,  and  with  the  profit  of  this  he 
purchases  an  axe  and  some  provisions.  He  then 
begins  to  cut  down  the  trees  on  his  own  lot ;  and 
so  either  becomes  the  owner  of  a  good  farm,  if 
industrious,  by  gradually  converting  the  forests 
into  fields,  and  his  log  hut  into  a  comfortable 
house  and  barn,  or  if  idle  and  a  hunter,  after  a 
few  years,  he  gives  place  to  one  of  more  application, 
who  performs  on  the  lot  that  which  the  first  ought 
to  have  done.  Wherever  industry  is  found  here, 
it  appears  to  be  attended  with  success.  I  have 
been  particular  in  asking,  as  a  general  question,  do 
you  know  any  industrious,  prudent  man,  whose 
circumstances  are  not  improving,  and  I  can  hear  of 
none. 

A  few  days  ago,  two  men  came  into  Mr.  Rose's 
office.  He  said  to  me,  "  Here  are  two  of  my  in- 
dustrious settlers ;  ask  them  how  they  have  made 
out."  I  did  so.  One  had  come  into  the  country 
three  years  before ;  he  brought  with  him  about 
five  hundred  dollars  worth  of  property,  not  money, 
but  cattle,  furniture,  &c. :  his  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres,  which  he  has  paid  for  by  his  industry,  and 
his  stock,  are  now  worth  three  thousand  dollars. 
The  other  came  into  the  country  eight  years  ago ; 


48  INCREASE   OF   PROPERTY. 

he  brought  with  him  property  worth  six  hundred 
dollars ;  he  has  also  paid  for  two  hundred  acres  of 
land,  and  is  now  worth  five  thousand  dollars. 
They  had  scarcely  gone,  before  a  very  decent 
looking  man  came  on  some  business  with  Mr.  Rose. 
After  it  was  done,  Mr.  R.  said  to  him,  "  Squire 
Bosworth,"  (for  he  had  been  a  magistrate,)  "  this 
gentleman  is  desirous  of  procuring  all  the  infor- 
mation he  can,  respecting  this  county;  I  believe 
your  circumstances  are  very  comfortable;  I  pre- 
sume you  were  worth  but  little  when  you  came, 
and  1  know  you  have  so  much  good  sense  as  not 
to  be  ashamed  of  it ;  tell  him  how  you  have  pros- 
pered here."  "  You  say  right,"  replied  the  other, 
"  I  am  not  ashamed  of  having  been  poor ;  there 
is  no  disgrace  in  that,  when  poverty  is  not  attended 
with  bad  conduct.  I  served  some  time  with  a  black- 
smith, before  I  came  here.  When  I  arrived,  I  had 
a  knapsack  on  my  back,  with  some  clothes  in  it, 
and  twenty-seven  dollars  in  my  pocket.  I  was  in- 
dustrious, and  moderately  careful.  I  have  lived 
very  comfortably,  and  have  never  denied  myself, 
or  my  family,  any  thing  in  reason.  When  my  cir- 
cumstances permitted  it,  I  put  others  into  my  shop, 
and  attended  to  my  farm  and  other  business.  I  do 
not  know  what  my  property  is  worth,  but  I  believe 
I  should  not  over  rate  it,  to  say  ten  or  twelve 
thousand  dollars."  I  am  not  surprised  that  these 
men,  and  others  like  them,  should  so  rapidly  im- 
prove their  circumstances ;  but  that,  in  this  county, 


INCREASE   OF   PROPERTY.  49 

many  should  be  found  with  such  confirmed  ha- 
bits of  improvidence,  that  if  the  miracle  of  the 
manna  were  repeated,  they  would  scarcely  take 
the  trouble  of  gathering  it  from  beneath  their  feet. 
This  disregard  of  the  things  around  them,  which 
is  very  conspicuous  in  the  characters  of  many 
Americans,  who  appear  strongly  impressed  with 
the  notion  of  letting  the  things  of  to-morrow  take 
care  of  themselves,  is  a  cause  of  much  surprise  to 
an  Englishman,  who  has  found  it  necessary  to  exert 
his  faculties  at  all  times  to  the  utmost,  to  avoid 
becoming  a  burthen  to  the  parish.  The  only 
difference,  therefore,  to  him,  is  between  having 
enough  to  eat  and  drink,  and  more  than  enough 
— between  being  above  want,  and  being  far  above 
it ;  and  he  is  disposed  to  join  with  the  enchanter 
in  the  Castle  of  Indolence,  and  exclaim, 

"  O  grievous  folly,  to  heap  up  estate, 

"  Losing  the  days  you  see  beneath  the  sun.'* 

However,  this  is  not  to  be  considered  as  a  general 
character  of  the  people  ;  and  I  believe  it  is  less 
seen  in  the  old  settlements  than  in  the  new.  In  the 
former,  there  is  a  pride  of  property,  which  does 
not  appear  to  be  much  felt  in  the  latter.  This 
feeling  stimulates  to  exertion,  and  serves  in  the 
place  of  that  pressure,  that  vis  a  tergo,  which  we 
receive  in  Great  Britain  from  our  taxes  and  tythes. 
I  believe  there  are  few  who  would  not  think  the 
former  the  most  agreeable.  The  quantity  of  land  in 
the  farmer's  occupation,  even  in  the  older  settled 
E 


50  CULTURE. 

parts  of  the  United  States,  and  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  cities,  and  the  higli  rate  of  labour,  prevent 
that  garden -like  appearance,  so  frequently  met 
with  in  England ;  where  a  man  will  sometimes  pay 
as  much  for  the  manure  he  puts  on  his  farm,  as  he 
could  purchase  a  farm  of  the  same  size  for  in  the 
United  States.  The  culture  here  is  unsightly ;  but 
if  a  foreigner  objects  to  it,  the  defence  of  an 
American  is,  look  at  our  exports.  These,  indeed, 
loudly  proclaim  the  opulence  of  his  soil,  and  the 
rewards  of  his  industry ;  and  perhaps  his  state- 
ment may  be  true,  that  the  labour  bestowed  by 
their  farmers  will  produce  more  than  if  expended 
in  the  minute  culture  of  England.  Here,  a  man 
runs  over  an  hundred  acres,  in  what  he  calls  cul- 
tivation, while  an  English  farmer  is  getting  over 
ten ;  while  one  is  hoeing  his  crop  carefully,  the 
other  passes  over  it  rapidly  with  the  plough ;  while 
one  is  attentively  drilling  his  rows,  tne  other  scat- 
ters his  seed  broadcast.  To  a  certain  extent,  this 
may  be  good.  It  is  difficult  to  say  where  liberty 
degenerates  into  licentiousness;  but  when  I  see  a 
woodsman  here,  extending  his  clearings  beyond 
his  power  to  keep  them  in  subjection ;  when  he 
is  cutting  down  trees  on  the  one  side  of  his  farm, 
while  he  is  suifering  the  bushes  to  grow  up  on  the 
other ;  then,  I  think,  the  liberty  has  grown  into 
licentiousness,  and  that  the  plan  pursued  has 
ceased  to  be  a  proper  one.  It  has  been  remarked 
by  many,  and  I  think  by  Dr.  Franklin  amongst 
them,  that  in  most  of  the  settlements,  in  the  United 


SETTLERS.  51 

States,  there  are  two  or  three  occupants  before  a 
permanent  settler  is>  found.  The  first  is  entirely 
without  property ;  he  comes,  builds  a  log  house, 
clears  a  dozen  acres,  and  is  ready  to  sell  his  situa- 
tion for  a  trifle,  to  any  one  that  shall  desire  it. 
Such  a  person  at  length  purchases,  makes  an  ad- 
dition to  his  house,  builds  a  barn,  and  increases 
the  improvement  to  fifty  or  sixty  acres.  Then 
comes  the  last,  who  builds  a  substantial  house,  in- 
creases the  size  of  the  barn  and  clearings,  and 
leaves  them  an  inheritance  of  his  children.  I  be- 
lieve there  will  be  fewer  of  these  changes  in  this 
county  than  common.  This  will  be,  in  some  degree, 
owing  to  a  better  population  than  is  usual  in  new 
countries,  and  to  much  forbearance  on  the  part  of 
the  land  owners.  Mr.  R.  has  upwards  of  five 
hundred  families  on  his  lands,  very  few  of  whom 
have  paid  him  any  thing ;  yet  he  has  never  brought 
a  suit  against  any  one,  however  delinquent ;  and  I 
have  been  myself  a  witness  of  his  disposition  to 
find  excuses  for  those  who  go  off  in  his  debt. 

I  have  related  the  common  mode  of  clearing,  by 
burning  the  timber  in  its  green  stale.  This  is  the 
most  expensive  way,  and  generally  costs  about 
twelve  dollars  per  acre ;  which  expense,  together 
with  all  others  of  sowing,  harvesting,  &c.  is  usually 
more  than  repaid  by  the  first  crop,  which  is  raised 
in  this  place  without  the  trouble  of  ploughing;  the 
grain  being  merely  sowed  on  the  newly  cleared 
ground,  and  harrowed  in.  It  is  surprising  to  me 
that  the  ground,  treated  in  this  way,  and  with  all 


52  PROFIT   OF   CLEARING. 

the  roots  and  stumps  left  in  it,  produces  such 
crops  as  are  mentioned  here.  It  surely  would 
produce  double  what  it  does  now,  if  it  were  com- 
pletely cleared,  well  ploughed,  and  cultivated  by 
a  good  English  farmer,  in  the  manner  he  has  been 
accustomed  to  at  home.  The  clearing  and  sowing 
of  new  lands  is  found  to  be  very  profitable.  In 
the  third  volume  of  the  Memoirs  of  the  Philadelphia 
Society  for  Promoting  Agriculture,  is  a  paper  on 
the  breeding  of  sheep  in  Susquehanna  county,  from 
which  I  shall  6opy  a  part  which  relates  to  the 
clearing  of  lands  here,  and  in  which  results  of  the 
clearing,  by  some  of  the  settlers,  are  given.  The 
calculation  is  made  on  the  principle,  that  every 
part  of  the  clearing,  harvesting,  &c.  is  paid  for, 
and  not  done  by  the  farmer. 

Dolls.  C. 
"  It  is  calculated  with  us  that  clearing 

and  fencing  cost  per  acre  •  •  • •  •  12  00 

One  bushel  of  wheat  sowed  on  ditto-  •  •  •  1  50 

Harrowing  (we  don't  plough)    ditto-  •  •  •  3  00 

Harvesting ditto- •••  2  00 

Threshing  •••« ditto"  ••  3  75 

22     25 

The  crop  may  be  estimated  at  20  bush- 
els of  wheat,  per  acre,  which  at  Idoll. 
50c.  the  price  it  commonly  sells  for,  be- 
tween spring  and  harvest,  is  •  • 30  00 


PROFIT   OF   CLEARING.  58 

Dolls.  C. 

Which  leaves  a  profit  (besides  paying  the 
above  expenses)  of  per  acre  ........       7    75 


I.  Swan,  I.  Hiscock,  and  A.  Pearce  had  the  pre- 
sent season  25  bushels  of  wheat,  per  acre.  W.  Ladd 
bad  33  bushels  of  rye,  L.  Moore  had  33  bushels  of 
wheat 

Dollt.  C. 
Swan,  Hiscock,  and  Pearce's  crops,  25 

bushels  at  I  doll.  50c.  would  be  •  •  •  •  37  50 
Deduct  for  clearing  ditto  •  •  •  •  • 22  25 

And  they  had  a  profit  per  acre  of 15    25 

W.  Ladd's  erop  of  rye,  33  bush,  at  Idoll.    33    00 
Deduct  as  aforesaid 22    25 

And  his  profit  per  acre,  was   ........     10    75 

L.  Moore's  crop  of  wheat,  33  bushels  at 

Udott.  55c • 49    50 

Deduct  for  clearing,  &c. •    22    26 

And  bis  profit  per  acre,  was « •  •  •  •     27    25 

The  foregoing  statements  I  hare  copied,  as  I 

have  mentioned,  from  the  Agricultural  Society's 

Transactions ;  and  from  my  enquiries  here,  I  am 

satisfied  of  their  accuracy.    It  will  be  seen  from 

£  2 


54  PROFIT    OF    CLEARING. 

these,  that  the  profits  on  clearing  land  are  very 
great;  for,  according  to  the  least  of  those  men- 
tioned, the  profits  on  clearing  an  hundred  acres, 
would  be  one  thousand  and  seventy-five  dollars,  in- 
dependant  of  the  additional  value  given  to  the  land, 
by  the  clearing  of  it,  which  would  be  twelve  hun- 
dred dollars  more,  making  together  the  sum  of 
two  thousand  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars, 
on  an  investment  of  two  thousand  two  hundred  and 
twenty-five  dollars,  which  sum  was  returned  in  the 
crop.  So  that  this  would  give,  were  it  continued 
with  equal  success,  an  annual  income  of  an  hun- 
dred per  cent,  on  the  capital  employed.  This  is  a 
fact  with  which  every  settler  here  appears  to  be 
acquainted,  and  it  is  the  source  of  their  prosperity ; 
and  of  the  great  increase  in  the  value  of  the  land 
in  new  countries,  where  the  soil  is  of  a  good  qua- 
lity, and  the  situation  favourable  for  the  sale  of 
the  articles  raised. 

These  calculations  are  made  on  the  most  expen- 
sive mode  of  clearing,  which  is  by  burning  the 
timber  whilst  it  is  green.  A  great  saving  of  ex. 
pense  may  be  made,  by  cutting  down  the  timber 
two  or  three  years  before  it  is  burnt ;  in  conse- 
quence of  which  it  becomes  dry,  and  one  half  of 
the  labour  of  burning  is  saved. 

I  believe  the  rent,  taxes,  tythes,  manure,  and 
stock  of  a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  in  our  part 
of  England,  mil  purchase  double  the  quantity  of 
land  in  this  country,  with  one  hundred  acres  of  it 
cleared ,  and  put  the  same  stock  upon  it.  I  have  made 


COMPARISON.  55 

the  estimate  very  carefully,  so  far  as  it  respects  the 
American  side  of  the  water :  you  must  be  a  judge, 
whether  it  is  so  on  the  English  side.  I  submit  both 
to  your  deliberate  reflection. 

Rent,  Taxes,  Stock,  fyc.for  100  acres  in  England. 

£.  s.  d.     Dolls. 

Rent,    « 200  0  0  or   889 

Taxes  and  poor  rates, 50  00  222 

Tythes, 20  0  0  88 

Manure,*  •• 20  00  88 

12  Cows, 156  0  0  693 

60  Sheep, • 67  10  0  300 

4Horses, 100  00  444 

6  young  Cattle, 40  00  176 

Waggon  and  Cart, .50  00  222 

Ploughs  and  Harrows, 10  00  44 

Geering,&c. 18  00  80 

4 Hogs,  «e... 9  00  40 


740  10  0      3286 


56  COMPARISON. 

Two  hundred  acres  of  land,  one  half  cleared,  with 
a  farm  house  and  buildings  on  it,  would  in  Sus- 
quthanna  county, 

Dolls.        £.      t.d. 
0  0 

64  0  0 
27  0  0 
63  0  0 
18  0  0 
50  0  0 
10  0  0 
18  0  0 
900 


.  999 

Sur 

3106 
plus         180 

699     0  0 
41  10  0 


3286      740  10  0 


Leaving  a  difference  in  favour  of  the  Susquehanna 
farm  of  forty  one  pounds  ten  shillings,  or  one 
hundred  and  eighty  dollars.  I  have  omitted  the 
fractions  of  the  dollar  in  this  estimate.  I  have  con- 
sulted three  English  farmers  who  are  here,  and  who 
have  had  opportunities  of  examining  the  cattle,  and 
various  kinds  of  stock ;  and  drawing  a  comparison 
of  the  prices  of  those  of  the  same  quality  in  Eng- 
land. The  poor  rates  and  tythcs  will  differ  in  dif- 
crent  parishes.  But  the  best  way  for  you  is  to 


MR.  KING'S  SPEECH.  57 

draw  up  for  yourself,  a  statement  of  the  expenses 
of  the  English  farm  :  I  will  be  answerable  for  the 
American  estimate. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  next  year,  and  every  suc- 
ceeding year  of  his  life,  our  English  farmer  has  to 
go  over  the  same  weary  round  of  his  rent,  taxes, 
tythcs,  and  poor  rates ;  while  here,  the  land  would 
be  his  own.  Here  he  would  be  the  proprietor  of  a 
valuable  estate,  sufficient  to  maintain  him  in  comfort 
and  competence  in  his  old  age,  and  enable  him  to 
establish  his  children  handsomely  about  him.  You 
will  probably  be  amused  at  the  American  tone  I  al- 
ready assume ;  and,  indeed, lam  somewhat  surpri- 
sed to  find  myself  speaking  and  writing  with  such 
feelings,  as  I  might  be  supposed  to  entertain  had  I 
resided  here  for  ten  years  past.  But  why  should  I 
uot  feel  thus  ?  I  am  among  a  people  essentially 
English — English  in  their  language  and  their  laws, 
both,  perhaps,  a  little  purer  than  is  common  in  the 
mother  country.  Some  of  these  people,  it  is  true, 
indulge  themselves  in  bitter  feelings  against  our  na- 
tion, but  you  may  rely  upon,  it  that  the  best  men 
in  this  country  entertain  no  such  sentiments. — 
On  this  subject  I  need  only  quote  the  lan- 
guage in  which  Mr.  King,  formerly  ambassa- 
dor to  the  court  of  Great  Britain,  concluded  a 
most  powerful  and  eloquent  speech  in  the  Senate 
of  the  United  States,  on  the  American  navigation 
act. 

"  England,"  said  this  high-minded  statesman, 
"  is  a  great  and  illustrious  nation,  having  attained 


58  HOUSES. 

to  this  pre-eminence  by  generous  and  successful 
efforts,  in  breaking  down  the  civil  and  religious 
bondage  of  former  ages.  Her  patriots,  her  scholars, 
and  her  statesmen  have  adorned  her  history,  and 
offer  models  for  the  imitation  of  others.  We  are1 
the  powerful  descendants  of  England,  desiring 
perpetual  friendship,  and  the  uninterrupted  inter- 
change of  kind  offices,  and  reciprocal  benefits. 
We  have  demonstrated,  in  circumstances  the  most 
critical,  constant  and  persevering  evidence  of  this? 
disposition.  We  still  desire  the  impartial  adjust- 
ment of  our  mutual  intercourse,  and  the  establish- 
ment of  some  equitable  regulations,  by  which  our 
personal  and  maritime  rights  may  be  secure  from 
arbitrary  violation.  A  settlement  that,  instead  of 
endless  collision  and  dispute,  may  be  productive 
of  concord,  good  humour  and  friendship :  and  it 
depends  on  her  whether  such  is  to  be  the  relation 
between  us/' 


LETTER  VII. 

Houses,  Bams,  Mills,  Fences. 

THE  first  thing  that  is  done  by  a  settler  in  the 
woods,  is  to  put  Up  a  log  house.  For  this  purpose 
he  cuts  down  trees  of  a  suitable  size,  and  of  a 
length  in  proportion  to  the  dimensions  he  intends 


BARNS,    MILLS.  59 

his  house  to  be.  His  neighbours  assemble  and 
raise  it  for  him,  by  laying  the  logs  in  a  square  form 
with  the  ends  notched  so  as  to  interlock  with  one 
another;  by  which  means  the  whole  are  secured 
and  bound  together.  The  spaces  for  the  doors 
and  windows  are  then  cut  through,  and  the  inter- 
stices of  the  logs  filled  with  earth  or  inoss ;  the 
boards  are  laid  for  the  floor,  and  the  chimney  built. 
A  house  of  this  kind  is  made  at  a  very  trifling 
expense.  Whea  time  and  circumstances  admit, 
a  better  one  is  erected  with  framed  timber,  covered 
neatly  with  boards  planed  and  painted.  Window- 
glass  is  made  in  a  neighbouring  county,  and  costs 
here  about  fourteen  ^dollars  per  hundred  square 
feet. 

Barns  are  usually  made  of  framed  timber,  and 
the  sides  covered  with  rough  boards.  A  good 
barn  of  this  kind,  fifty  feet  long  by  forty  wide,  and 
finished  with  stables,  can  be  built,  including  the 
cast  of  the  materials,  for  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars.  The  expense  of  the  house  will  depend  on 
its  size,  and  the  work  employed  on  it.  The  ma- 
terials cost  less  than  the  labour. 

Grist  mills  usually  cost  from  one  to  two  thou- 
sand dollars.  The  stones  used  are  of  the  kind 
called  pudding  stone,  which  is  much  inferior  to  the 
French  burr,  or  the  common  English  mill  stones. 

Saw  mills,  which  are  extremely  important  in  all 
settlements,  cost  from  three  to  six  hundred  dollars. 
They  are  set  in  motion  by  water,  and  use  a  single 


60  BOARDS,   FENCES. 

saw,  which  cuts  from  one  to  two  thousand  feet  of 
boards  in  a  day. 

Pine  boards  sell  at  the  mill  for  from  six  to  ten 
dollars  a  thousand  square  feet ;  boards  made  of  the 
hemlock  spruce^about  one  fifth  less;  cherry  boards, 
nearly  equal  to  mahogany,  sell  for  fifteen  dollars 
per  thousand  feet. 

All  buildings  here  are  covered  with  shingles. — 
These  are  made  of  the  white  pine,  and  are  laid  on 
the  roof  so  as  to  lap  over  each  other,  like  tiles.  A 
thousand  of  them,  which  cover  somewhat  less  than 
two  hundred  square  feet,  sell  for  two  dollars.  They 
form  a  roof  which  is  very  close  and  impenetrable 
to  rain,  but  is  much  exposed  to  fire.  They  may,  in 
some  degree,  be  preserved  from  that  element  by 
thick  coats  of  a  composition,  which  is  sometimes 
applied  to  them. 

Fences  are  usually  made,  when  the  land  is  just 
cleared,  with  logs  of  about  twelve  feet  long,  placed 
in  a  zig-zag  manner,  with  their  ends  resting  on 
each  other,  to  the  height  of  five  feet.  This  forms 
a  sufficient  fence  for  a  few  years,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  saves  the  trouble  of  burning  the  logs  used 
for  this  purpose ;  but  it  has  a  very  rude  appearance. 
Those  settlers  who  are  somewhat  neater  in  their 
clearings,  split  the  logs  into  rails,  and  lay  them  up 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  other,  with  stakes  set  at 
the  angles,  on  which  a  heavy  rail  rests  to  bind  the 
fence  together.  Even  this  kind  of  fence  has  a 
very  slovenly  appearance,  and  occupies  much 


HEDGES.  61 

ground.  A  better  kind  is  called  post  and  rail,  and 
is  made  in  the  same  manner  as  in  our  country.  All 
these  fences  have  a  very  bad  effect,  in  comparison 
with'  walls  or  hedges.  But  they  are  quickly  made, 
and  if  at  any  time  it  should  be  desirable  to  alter  the 
shape  or  extent  of  the  field,  they  can  be  easily  re- 
moved. There  are  materials,  however,  in  sufficient 
abundance  to  make  the  most  beautiful  hedges. 
When  I  cast  my  eyes  on  the  bushes  of  the  hemlock 
spruce,  it  immediately  struck  me,  that  they  would 
be  the  very  thing  for  hedges. 

On  this  subject  an  American  writer  makes  the 
following  observations :  "  While  my  attention  was 
"  turned  to  live  fences  on  a  great  scale  for  our 
"  fields,  it  occurred  to  me  that  I  had  some  of  the 
4<  best  specimens  of  hedges  in  my  garden.  These 
«'  have  been  planted  at  least  sixty  years ;  I  have 
"  some  planted  about  six  years,  they  are  composed 
'«  of  the  hemlock  spruce  of  our  forests.  The  old 
"  hedges  are  now  as  vigorous  as  they  could  have 
"  been  in  the  first  years  of  their  being  set  out. 
"  They  are  close,  strong,  and  impervious ;  and 
•'  never  like  the  cedar,  die  at  bottom.  They  have 
"  out-grown  the  dimensions  in  which  I  formerly 
"  wished  to  confine  them ;  being  about  six  feet  in 
"  thickness,  and  five  feet  in  height.  These  hedges 
"  bear  plashing,  cutting,  and  clipping,  without 
"  injury  ;  and  nothing  of  the  kind  can  be  neater 
"  than  their  appearance,  when  newly  clipped. 
"  They  retain  their  verdure  through  the  winter, 
"  far  beyond  most  of  the  resinous  tribe ;  none 
F 


62  HEDGES, 

•'  whereof  are  subject  to  be  eaten  by  mice  or  other 
*'  vermin,  or  browsed  by  cattle,  as  the  deciduous 
"  trees  or  shrubs.  They  were  planted  in  a  single 
"  rew  ;  the  stalks  about  a  foot  from  each  other. 
"  They  permit  wearing  or  training  in  any  way ; 
"  being  hardy,  pliant,  and  tough.  They  can  be 
"  raised  with  little  trouble  from  the  cones.  I 
"  never  saw  any  other  ever-green  hedge  equal  to 
"  one  of  hemlock  spruce  ;  when  in  blossom,  it  is 
"  the  handsomest  of  all  its  tribe,  the  limbs  are 
"  horizontal ;  layers  will  strike  out  and  fill  the 
"  bottom."* 

The  white  thorn  is  a  native  of  this  countrv,  and 
easily  procured.  Mr.  Cobbett  speaks  01  some 
white  thorn  brought  from  England,  which  he  saw 
growing  near  Philadelphia,  and  observes,  that  they 
clearly  proved  that  the  white  thorn  would,  with  lets 
care,  make  as  good  hedges  as  they  do  at  Farnham, 
in  Surry. 


*  See  a  letter  from  the  HON.  RICHARD  PE'/EHS,  in 
the  Transactions  qf  the  Philadelphia  Agricultural  Society. 


GRASS.  63 

LETTER  VIII. 
Cattle,  Grain,  fyc. 

SUSQUEHANNA  county  is  peculiarly  well 
adapted  to  the  raising  and  fattening  of  cattle.  The 
grass  which  is  sown,  grows  abundantly  ;  but  the 
settlers  are  not  careful  to  procure  the  best  kinds. 
Almost  the  only  one  raised  here  is  timothy,  which 
is  of  little  worth  for  pasture.  Red  clover,  where  it 
is  sowed,  grows  luxuriantly.  The  white  clover  ap- 
pears to  be  a  natural  grass  of  the  country  ;  for  al- 
though never  sowed,  it  covers  every  field  and  road 
side,  where  the  land  has  been  neglected.  No  care 
is  taken  of  the  meadows ;  or  rather,  no  selection  of 
ground ;  any  field,  which  the  cattle  are  kejrt  from 
in  the  summer,  becomes  a  meadow,  and  will  pro- 
duce about  a  ton  and  a  half  of  timothy  per  acre, 
at  a  mowing.  It  must  be  observed,  that  the  slo- 
venly mode  called  clearing,  in  which  neither  root 
nor  stone  is  removed  from  the  surface,  (and  the 
beech  timber  §throws  its  roots  over  the  surface) 
prevents  the  mower  from  cutting  more  than  two 
thirds  of  the  crop  on  the  ground.  But  this  he 
cares  little  about ;  for  he  says,  the  cattle  will  eat 
the  rest ;  but  the  cattle  will  not  eat  the  strawey  stems 
of  the  timothy  in  the  summer  time ;  and  the  part 
left,  is  lost.  The  cattle  here  are  greatly  neglected ; 
but  I  suppose  this  must  be  the  case  in  all  new 
settlements.  The  cows  are  seldom  put  under  any 
shelter  during  the  winter ;  and  it  frequently  occurs, 


64  CATTLE. 

the  first  winter  after  a  man  has  commenced  his  im- 
provement, that  his  cattle  are  fed  principally  with 
the  branches  of  trees,  which  he  cuts  down  for  that 
purpose,  and  which  they  appear  to  relish  tolerably 
well ;  this  is  called  browsing. 

There  appears  to  be  but  little  difference  made 
between  the  price  of  a  good  and  a  bad  cow.  The 
consequence  must  be,  indifferent  and  small  cattle 
generally.  And  yet,  here  are  some  fine  large  oxen, 
that  convince  me  nothing  is  wanting  but  care  in  the 
breed,  to  raise  as  fine  cattle  here  as  in  any  part  of 
the  world.  In  a  newspaper  which  I  picked  up  yes- 
terday, I  saw  an  account  of  a  cattle  fair,  in  one  of 
the  states  to  the  north  of  this,  in  which  is  mentioned 
the  weight  of  nine  oxen,  the  average  of  which  is 
2283lbs. ;  the  heaviest  weighed  2784lbs.  He  who 
is  not  satisfied  with  these  weights  must  be  desirous 
of  introducing  elephants.  Grazing  would  undoubt- 
edly be  very  profitable  her«,  if  pursued  in  a  proper 
manner.  Large  droves  of  cattle,  raised  in  the 
northern  parts  of  the  state  of  New  York,  are  driven 
through  this  country  to  Philadelphia,  where  they 
are  sold  to  the  graziers,  and  fattened  on  farms  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  that  city ;  and  many  of  the 
cattle  thus  fattened,  are  sent  to  the  market  of  New 
York ;  where,  from  that  circumstance,  I  presume 
they  bring  a  higher  price  than  at  Philadelphia. 
The  farms  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  latter  city, 
sell  for  one  hundred  dollars  and  upwards  per  acre  ; 
and  some  of  the  grazing  farms  on  the  margin  of  the 
Delaware,  below  Philadelphia,  I  was  assured,  had 


SHEEP.  65 

sold  as  high  as  three  hundred  dollars  per  acre. 
Now,  as  the  soil  of  this  country  is  peculiarly  well 
calculated  for  grazing,  and  as  a  farm  here  may  be 
purchased  for  less  than  the  cost  of  manuring  one 
near  Philadelphia,  I  am  persuaded  that  great  pro- 
fits may  be  made  by  the  farmer  here,  following  the 
example  of  the  grazier  there,  and  fattening  cattle 
for  the  New  York  market.  There  can  be  no  doubt 
of  his  being  able  to  undersell  any  rival,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  cheapness  of  the  land.  The  settlers 
here  are  not  yet  sufficiently  aware  of  the  advan- 
tages of  their  situation ,  but  these  must  become 
more  apparent  as  the  improvements  increase. 

In  speaking  of  the  sheep  of  the  western  country, 
Mr.  Birkbeck  says  that  "  there  is  not  a  district, 
"  and  scarcely  a  spot  that  he  has  travelled  over, 
"  where  a  flock  of  fine  wooled  sheep  could  be  kept 
"  with  any  prospect  of  advantage,  provided  there 
"  were  even  a  market  for  the  carcase."  This  cir- 
cumstance, which  is  owing  to  the  flatness  of  the 
country,  he  must  have  found  very  inconvenient  to 
an  English  palate.  We,  you  know,  are  so  fond  of 
mutton,  that  the  phrase  "  take  your  mutton  with 
me,"  has  become  synonymous  with  an  invitation  to 
dinner.  This  difficulty  cannot  be  complained  of 
here ;  for  I  kave  eaten  as  fine  mutton  in  this  coun- 
ty as  is  to  be  found  in  any  part  of  England.  On 
praising  a  quarter  of  mutton,  of  which  I  was  par- 
taking a  few  days  ago,  I  was  informed,  that  the 
sheep  had  been  taken  from  among  the  flock,  that 
usually  ran  in  the  woods  or  roads,  without  any  par- 
F2 


G6  INDIAN    CORN. 

ticular  feeding;  and,  that  the  value  of  the  tallow 
was  equal  to  the  whole  price  paid  for  the  sheep. 
This,  I  was  assured,  was  frequently  the  case. 

There  is  an  Essay  on  the  advantage  of  raising 
sheep  in  Susquehanna  county,  inserted  in  the  Phi- 
ladelphia Agricultural  Society's  Transactions,  but 
the  limits  of  my  communication  to  you  will  prevent 
my  quoting  it ;  however,  you  shall  see  it  when  you 
arrive  amongst  us,  aad  eat  your  mutton  with  me ; 
which  I  hope  you  will  relish  as  much  as  any  essay 
on  the  subject.  In  this  place  are  raised  the  differ- 
ent kinds  of  grain  which  we  are  accustomed  to  in 
England,  together  with  the  Indian  corn,  or  maize, 
which  we  have  not.  When  corn  is  spoken  of  here, 
this  kind  is  always  understood  to  be  meant:  Other 
grain  is  called  by  its  specific  name.  Indian  corn 
is  planted  in  hills,  about  three  feet  apart,  some- 
thing like  our  hop  yards.  Two  or  three  stalks 
grow  in  each  hill,  to  the  height  of  six,  eight,  or  ten 
feet,  and  bear  on  their  sides,  each,  three  or  four 
ears,  nearly  a  foot  long  and  as  thick  as  a  man's 
wrist,  enveloped  in  a  husk.  The  top  of  the  stalk  is 
surmounted  with  a  tassel,  and  the  plant,  when 
growing,  has  a  very  rich  and  beautiful  appearance. 
The  hills  are  ploughed  or  hoed.  When  the  ears 
are  in  a  milky  state,  before  the  grain  is  ripe,  they 
are  boiled,  and  the  green  corn  eaten  with  butter 
and  salt,  is  considered  as  a  great  delicacy.  When 
ripe,  it  is  ground,  and  made  into  bread  or  cakes ; 
and  by  some  the,  meal  is  mixed  with  rye,  and  made 
into  bread.  Many  are  fond  of  the  meal  boiled  to 


GRAIN,   POTATOES.  67 

the  consistency  of  a  hasty  pudding,  and  eaten 
with  milk,  or  molasses  and  butter.  The  grain  is 
sometimes  ground  very  coarsely,  so  as  to  break  it 
into  three  or  four  parts,  and  used  in  soups.  In  this 
state  it  is  called  hominy ;  or  the  hull  or  bran  is 
taken  off,  by  steeping  it  in  a  lie  of  wood  ashes.  If 
an  American  was  suffered  to  preserve  only  one 
kind  of  grain,  it  would  be  Indian  corn.  The  stalk 
and  leaves  afford  an  excellent  fodder  for  cattle. 

Oats,  I  believe,  are  never  used  here  as  a  food 
for  man.  The  grain  is  generally  smaller  than  the 
English  oats;  but  I  have  heard  of  upwards  of  sixty 
bushels  being  raised  per  acre.  I  should  observe, 
that  the  acre  here  is  the  same  as  the  statute  acre 
of  England,  and  contains  one  hundred  and  sixty 
perches,  of  five  and  a  half  yards  square. 

Buck  wheat,  or  French  wheat,  as  it  is  called  in 
England,  is  raised  on  the  river  hills,  where  the 
timber  is  oak  ;  but  the  soil  in  the  beech  woods  is 
considered  too  rich  for  it.  The  flour  is  made  into 
thin  cakes. 

Potatoes  are  very  good  here,  and  considered  a 
certain  crop.  This  root  is  destroyed  by  the  hot 
summers  of  the  southern  states,  and  the  most  fari- 
nacious  kinds,  when  taken  there,  become  viscous 
and  watery.  A  very  usual  way  of  raising  them 
here  is  this,  after  the  timber  has  been  burnt  off,  a 
slight  hole  is  made  with  a  stroke  of  a  hoe  in  the 
ground,  which  has  never  been  ploughed ;  into  this 
a  potatoe  is  dropped,  and  the  earth  turned  back 
upon  it,  la  that  way  it  is  left  to  take  its  chance, 


68  CARELESSNESS. 

without  further  notice,  till  it  is  time  to  gather  the 
crop.  "  What  a  strange  mode  of  culture !"  you 
exclaim.  But  an  American  woodsman  would  be 
as  much  surprised  at  the  nice  cultivation  of  an  En- 
glish farmer,  as  the  latter  at  the  want  of  care  in 
the  former.  Our  fields  would  be  American  gar- 
dens. Even  Mr.  R.'s  farm,  where  one  might  ex- 
pect to  see  more  care  than  is  usually  found  here, 
has  never  had  a  plough  in  it,  until  since  1  came 
here,  when  ploughing  was  commenced  by  an  En- 
glish farmer,  whom  he  has  employed  to  take  charge 
of  his  grounds.  If  this  man  works  the  ground  in 
the  manner,  and  with  the  care,  he  must  have  done 
at  home,  I  think  the  farm  will  bring  very  different 
crops  from  any  thing  it  yet  has  done. 

There  are  three  barns  on  the  farm,  one  of  which 
had  been  deserted  by  the  former  tenant,  who  found 
himself  unable  to  get  into  it,  in  consequence  of  the 
great  quantity  of  dung  about  it,  which  had  been 
accumulating  since  the  commencement  of  the  im- 
provement. The  first  thing  that  the  new  farmer 
did,  was  to  get  the  dung  thrown  into  heaps.  This 
labour  appeared  to  excite  much  curiosity  in  the 
neighbourhood.  "  What  are  you  doing  that  lor?" 
was  asked  b\  almost  every  one  who  passed.  And 
on  his  replying,  that  he  intended  to  put  it  on  the 
fields,  the  usual  observation  was — "  Why,  now,  I 
suppose  that  would  be  worth  something  if  you 
had  it  in  England." 

Notwithstanding  all  this  waste,  the  American 
farmer  grows  rich.  Indeed  it  appears  as  if  all  that 


VALUE   OF   LAND.  69 

a  man  has  to  do  in  order  to  become  so,  is  to  go  to  a 
new  settlement,  where  the  soil  is  of  a  good  quality. 
.  In  that  situation,  if  he  can  purchase  and  pay  for  an 
hundred  acres  of  land,  while  it  is  cheap,  and  be 
almost  quiescent,  merely  maintain  himself  on  it, 
j  the  rapid  rise  in  value  of  his  land,  will,  in  a  few 
i  years,  make  him  wealthy.     This  rise  of  value  in 
jland  is  truly  astonishing;  and  if  good  selections  of 
j  situation  are  made,  it  appears  to  be  as  certain  as 
;  rapid.     Mr.  R.  sold  one  hundred  acres  of  land, 
where  Montrose  now  stands,  for  one  hundred  and 
.'•fifty  dollars,  and  the  person  to  whom  he  sold  it, 
before  the  time  expired  in  which  he  was  allowed 
to  pay  for  it,  sold  half  an  acre  of  the  same  ground 
for  five  hundred  dollars.     This,  to  be  sure,  was  a 
village ;  but  farms  rise  in  value  astonishingly.   One 
i  lot  I  saw,  which  Mr.  R.  sold  to  a  young  man  for 
one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  gave  him  seve- 
ral years  to  pay  it  in.    The  person  who  bought  it, 
and  who  had  little  or  no  property,  went  to  work, 
and  by  his  industry  cleared  a  part,  and  built  a  log 
house  and  frame-barn  on  it ;   and  before  he  had 
paid  any  thing  for  k,  sold  it  for  two  thousand  dol- 
lars.    I  could  mention  many  other  instances  of 
this  kind,  which  are  very  common  to  those  who  are 
industrious  and  careful.    And  is  it  wonderful  that 
such  a  country  should  improve  and  settle  fast! 
What  a  blessing  it  would  be  for  the  industrious 
poor  of  England  if  they  could  be  transported  hither, 
where  there  is  room  for  them  all  and  ample  rewards 
for  their  industry !     How  cheerfully  would  they 


70  POLICY    OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 

toil  for  a  competency,  when  they  should  find 

•••        "  O'er  their  labour,  liberty  and  law 
Impartial  watch," 

while,  instead  of  their  former  state  of  vassalage, 
they  became  the  independent  proprietors  of  the 
soil ;  and  that  in  a  country  which  is  emphatically 
the  land  of  freedom. 

It  is  peculiarly  pleasing  to  see  the  enlightened 
policy  of  Pennsylvania,  which  has  ever  been  consi  - 
dered  as  one  of  the  most  important  states  of  the 
union,  and  which  instead  of  squandering  its  wealth 
in  the  destruction  of  mankind,  is  solicitous  only  for 
the  welfare  of  its  citizens ;  and  directs  its  revenue 
and  resources  to  the  improvement  of  its  roads,  the 
making  of  canals,  the  erection  of  bridges,  and  the 
improvement  of  the  various  means  of  facilitating 
the  intercourse  between  all  its  parts.  In  a  pampklet 
on  the  internal  improvement  of  Pennsylvania,  lately 
published,  the  author  shows  that  this  state  alone 
has  expended  on  roads,  bridges,  canals,  rivers,  and 
schools,  upwards  of  eleven  millions  of  dollars,  and 
the  continuance  of  the  same  wise  policy  is  recom- 
mended by  the  present  governor.  In  his  address  to 
the  legislature  now  in  session,  he  says  "  The  reve- 
*'  nues  will  be  sufficient  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
"  the  government,  sustain  the  plighted  faith  of  the 
"  commonwealth,  liberally  patronize  agriculture 
"  and  education,  and  aid  internal  improvements." 
Instead  of  addresses  to  the  Lords  and  Cbmuion.s, 
calling  upon  his  Majesty's  dutiful  subjects  for  new 
supplies  of  millions,  we  find  the  chief  magistrate 


GOVERNOR'S  SPEECH.  71 

of  this  Commonwealth  saying  to  his  fellow  citi- 
zens, who  have  been  elected  members  of  the 
legislature  by  the  free  choice  of  the  people,  "  As 
"  agriculture  and  manufactures  are  the  great 
"  sources  of  wealth,  and  the  only  solid  foundation 
"  of  owr  comforts  and  independence,  they  areparti- 
"  culiarly  entitled  to  the  fostering  care  of  govern- 
"  ment.  The  power  of  cherishing  and  protecting 
"  manufactures,  on  an  extended  scale,  or  beyond 
**  those  of  the  household,  directly  connected  with 
"  agriculture,  belongs  more  immediately  to  the 
*'  general,  than  the  state  government.  Agriculture, 
"  the  basis  of  manufactures,  and  the  most  essen- 
*'  tial  of  all  the  arts  to  the  general  welfare,  is  fully 
«*  within  the  scope  of  our  constitutional  powers  to 
•'  aid  and  encourage,  and  has  a  strong  claim  to 
"  legislative  patronage.  Pennsylvania,  from  the 
'«  free  principles  of  her  political  institutions,  her 
"  genial  climate,  the  fertility  of  her  soil,  and  the 
*'  enterprise  of  her  citizens,  without  having  received 
*•'  any  direct  support  from  the  government,  more 
"  than  the  common  protection  afforded  to  labour 
and  property,  deservedly  suitains  the  character 
'  of  an  agricultural  state.  The  knowledge,  how- 
'  ever,  of  the  art  of  husbandry  may  be  improved  ; 
«  and  it  is  not  only  the  interest,  but  should  be  the 
'  pride  of  the  representatives  of  au  agricultural 
"  people  to  promote  its  advancement.  Though 
"  the  art  may  be  enlightened  and  assisted  by 
"  science,  it  is  not  from  speculations  and  theories 
"  alone ;  but  from  various  and  repeated  experi- 
"  ments,  together  with  close  observations,  that  a 


72  GOVERNOR'S  SPEECH. 

"  proper  knowledge  of  it  is  to  be  obtained.  The 
"  expense  of  making  those  experiments,  frequently 
'*  uncertain  in  their  results,  few  individuals  have 
*'  the  ability  or  inclination  to  encounter.  It  might 
"  therefore  be  advantageous,  if  the  commonwealth 
44  were  to  purchase  within  her  limits,  several  saiall 
44  farms,  embracing  various  qualities  of  soil,  and 
"  place  them  under  boards  of  managers,  or  voluntary 
44  societies,  formed  for  the  purpose,  (with  directions 
44  respectively  to  make  experiments  of  the  effects  of 
"  the  native  manure ;  of  the  differentmodes  of  tillage ; 
"  of  the  cultivation  of  grains  and  grasses ;  of  breed- 
"  ing  domestic  animals  ;  of  rearing  fruit  trees ;  of 
44  the  preservation  of  fruits  ,  of  the  utility  of  newly 
"  invented  implements  of  husbandry,  intended  to 
"  facilitate  or  abridge  labour;  of  the  cheapest  and 
"most  durable  mode  of  fencing;  and  whatever 
"  else  may  be  connected  with  agriculture;  andpe- 
"  riodically  to  publish  the  result,  with  observations 
44  thereon.  The  expenses  of  such  establishments 
44  would  be  trivial,  when  compared  with  the  know- 
"  ledge  that  might  be  thereby  acquired  and  dif- 
•'  fused,  on  a  subject  in  which  every  citizen  is 
"  deeply  interested.  To  encourage  and  stimulate 
"  industry,  the  great  spring  of  the  improvement 
"  and  extension  of  agriculture,  easy  and  safe 
44  channels  of  transportation  for  the  products  of 
41  the  soil  to  a  certain  market  are  indispensable, 
44  By  the  bounty  of  former  legislatures,  and 
44  the  meritorious  exertions  of  companies  in- 
44  corporated  for  the  purpose,  about  nine  hun- 
"  dred  aiid  eighty  miles  of  turnpike  road  have 


PRICE   OF    LABOUR.  73 

fi  been  completed,  and  numerous  elegant  and  sub- 
"  stantial  bridges  erected  across  our  principal 
"  streams." 

How  praise  worthy,  and  yet  how  unusal,  to  see 
the  governor  of  a  powerful  state  directing  his  ef- 
forts to  promote  the  blessings  of  peace,  and  the 
enjoyments  of  domestic  comforts;  and  instead  of 
a  pompous  harangue  on  the  destrution  of  armies,  to 
rind  him  simply  observing,  "  that  in  witnessing  the 
protection  which  every  worthy  man  enjoys  in  his 
person,  his  religion,  his  labour  and  his  property  ; 
and  in  tracing  tbe  rapid  progress  of  the  improve- 
ments in  the  state,  a  fair  occasion  is  presented 
to  us  for  mutual  congratulations.'* 


LETTER  IX. 

Price  of  Labour. 

A  LABOURER  gets  from  three  quarters  of  a  dollar 
to  a  dollar  per  day  ;  a  carpenter,  or  mason,  from 
one  dollar  and  a  quarter  to  one  dollar  and  three 
quarters  per  day.  A  dollar  will  purchase  twenty 
pounds  of  beef,  or  sixteen  pounds  of  mutton  or 
veal,  or  one  bushel  of  rye  or  Indian  corn,  or  two 
thirds  of  a  bushel  of  wheat.  Thus,  three  or  four 
days'  works  of  a  common  labourer,  will  supply 
G 


74  PRICE    OF    LABOUR. 

liiin  with  provisions  for  a  month.  Hence  it  is, 
that  the  poorer  classes  of  the  Americans  live  bet- 
ter, and  consume  more  animal  food,  than  any  other 
people  of  the  same  description.  An  English  la- 
bourer may  sing  about  the  roast  beef  of  Old  Eng- 
land, but  it  is  a  dainty  which  he  is  rarely  permitted 
to  taste.  An  American  labourer  may  dine  on  roast 
beef  every  day  in  the  year,  unless  he  prefers  some 
other  dish.  The  agricultural  exports  from  Europe, 
are  in  general  what  the  persons  employed  in  rearing 
them  cannot  afford  to  eat :  in  America  they  con- 
sist of  the  surplus  beyond  what  they  can  consume  ; 
and  the  quantity  would  be  immense,  if  the  labour- 
ing part  of  the  community  here  would  be  satisfied  to 
put  up  with  the  same  kind  of  fare,  which  millions 
of  his  Majesty's  subjects  would  be  glad  to  obtain. 
With  you,  it  is  only  a  privileged  class  who  are 

born  to  live  on  the  fat  of  the  land -frvges  con- 

sumere  nati; here  the  phrase  extends  to  every 

class.  Indeed,  this  is  carried  to  a  very  improper 
and  wasteful  profusion.  I  am  told  that  there  is 
not  at  family  in  this  county,  that  would  use  a  sheep's 
head  ;  and  of  a  bullock's  the  only  parts  used  are 
the  tongue  and  lower  jaw  ;  the  rest  is  thrown  away, 
as  is  the  case  with  the  liver,  heart,  and  feet  of  all 
animals.  One  of  our  countrymen  observed  to  me 
the  other  day,  these  people  are  the  greatest  eaters, 
and  the  least  workers  that  I  ever  saw ;  I  have  been 
in  {bur  houses  to-day,  and  I  found  the  men  all  sit- 
ting quietly  within,  instead  of  being  on  their  farms 
at  work ;  and  yesterday,  when  I  went  to  purchase 


€OST    OF    LIVING.  75 

some  meat,  I  found  a  man  who  had  just  killed  five 
fat  hogs,  and  on  my  offering  to  purchase  some  of 
them,  he  said,  I  have  none  to  sell,  I  want  to  buy 
some  myself: — his  family  consisted  of  himself, 
his  wife,  and  three  small  children. 

As  it  is  of  importance  to  the  mechanics  who 
wish  to  settle  here,  to  make  an  estimate  of  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  situation,  I  have  endeavoured  to 
do  it  with  all  the  care  in  my  power.  Here  are  two 
of  our  countrymen,  one  a  mechanic,  the  other  a 
farmer,  both  have  large  families,  and  are  men  of 
good  judgment.  They  say  that  a  family  may  be 
maintained  in  provision  much  better  than  they 
were  accustomed  to  live  on  at  home,  at  an  expense 
of  one  dollar  per  week  for  each  grown  person  ;  or 
rating  children  in  a  proper  proportion.  One  of 
these  (the  farmer)  has  his  wife,  two  sons  grown  up, 
and  four  other  children,  rating  the  latter  as  two 
grown  persons,  they  are  altogether  equal  to  six. 
On  these  I  have  made  the  estimate,  and  the  cost 
of  the  same  number  in  Philadelphia. 

Dolls. 

Rent  of  a  small  house  in  Philadelphia,  fit  for 
a  mechanic  with  the  above  named  family  200 

Cost  of  provision  on  an  estimate  of  two  dol- 
lars per  head  per  week,  for  one  year 624 

Extra  cost  of  clothing,  10  dollars  each 60 

10  cords  of  fire  wood  at  6  dollars  per  cord*  •  •  -60 

Dolk.   944 


76  COST    OP   LIVING. 

Dolls. 

Amount  brought  forward  •  •  •  •         Dolls.       944 
House  rent  in  Susquehanna  county*  •   24 
Maintenance  of  family  at  1  dollar 

per  week  each  » •-  •  • 312 

20  cords  of  wood •  •  •  •  15 

351 

Difference,  or  annual  saving  Dolls.  •  •  •  •  593 

A  very  comfortable  house  may  be  built  in  Sus- 
quehanna county  for  400  dollars.  I  have,  there- 
fore, rated  the  rent  at  the  interest  of  the  principal 
employed  in  it ;  but  it  must  be  observed,  that  in  a 
new  and  thriving  country,  all  the  houses  are  occu- 
pied, and  you  find  none  to  be  rented.  You  must 
build  for  joarself.  Supposing  the  above  state- 
ment, which  I  have  been  careful  in  making,  to  be 
over-rated,  then  form  it  on  the  supposition  of  a 
small  family,  or  throw  off,  in  the  calculation,  one 
third  of  the  supposed  saving,  and  there  remains 
enough  to  pay  for  one  hundred  acres  of  land  under 
the  society's  contract ;  and  that  land  in  three  years 
will  be  worth  double  the  price  we  are  to  pay  for  it. 
A  few  years'  settings,  without  saying  any  thing  of 
profits,  appropriated  in  this  way,  would  ensure  to 
the  mechanic  a  valuable  farm,  and  a  comfortable 
retirement  from  the  toils  of  his  business  in  his  old 
age.  Even  the  author  of  the  Castle  of  Indolence, 
who  speaks  in  such  a  contemptuous  tone  of  the 
"  scoundrel  maxim"  that  %« a  penny  saved  is  a  penny 
got,"  might  be  disposed  to  view  the  annual  saving 


MECHANICS.  77 

of  one  hundred  acres  of  good  laud  as  a  very  dif- 
ferent affair.  It  is  certainly  one  of  great  impor- 
tance in  the  calculations  of  the  industrious  artisan, 
upon  whose  labour  the  comforts  of  his  wife  and 
children  are  to  depend. 

The  society  in  their  selection  of  land  for  a  set- 
tlement, have  had  in  view  the  advantages  of  me- 
chanics, as  well  as  farmers.     They  have  seen  the 
disadvantages    which   many  of  the  former  labour 
under  in  the  cities  of  America,  where  house  rent 
and  fire  wood  are  very  expensive ;  and  the  advan- 
tages which  would  be  derived  from  a  situation  such 
as  has  been  chosen,  where  the  country  round  can 
be  supplied  with  the  work  of  the  mechanics  ;  and 
any  surplus  may  be  sent,  at  small  expense,  to  fac- 
tors established  in  the  cities  of  Philadelphia  or 
New-York.     If  the  work  be  intended  entirely  for 
those  cities,  when  the  articles  are  not  bulky,  they 
can  be  sent  from  Susquehanna  county  at  a  very 
trifling    expense.     Let   the    tanner,  for  instance, 
make  his  estimate  at  what  he  can  afford  to  sell  lea- 
ther when  he  tans  it  in  a  place  where  he  may  h#ve 
his  bark  for  the  trouble  of  taking  it  off  the*  trees, 
and  where  the  materials  for  his  establishment  are 
all  to  be  had  on  the  lowest  terms.     Let  the  shoe- 
maker, who  manufactures  the  leather,  estimate  the 
advantage  to  him,  when  he  gets  a  higher  price  for 
his  shoes  here  than  he  does  in  the  cities,  and  if  he 
wanted  to  send   them  there,  to  be  sold  by  whole- 
sale, he  can  do  it,  at  an  expense  of  perhaps  a  half- 
penny per  pair.     Letthetawer  or  leather  dresser, 
G  2 


78  MECHANICS. 

and  the  glover,  calculate  upon  the  advantages  of 
establishing  these  trades  where  the  skins  of  deer 
are  procured  at  from  three  quarters  of  a  dollar  to 
a  dollar  each,  and  where,  at  present,  sheep  skins 
are  thrown  away.  Let  every  mechanic,  and  espe- 
cially those  who  manufacture  the  lighter  articles  to 
be  sold  at  wholesale,  calculate  for  himself  the 
cheapness  at  which  they  can  be  made  here,  and  the 
trifling  expense  of  carriage,  if  even  they  are  to  be 
sent  to  the  cities,  and  he  will  see  the  advantages  of 
the  establishment  which  we  contemplate. 

The  intention  of  the  society  is  to  lay  off  a  suffi- 
ciency of  ground,  on  one  of  the  turnpikes,  for  a 
handsome  village,  and  to  g\ve,Jreeofall  expense,  a 
half  acre  lot,  cleared,  to  each  of  the  first  fifty  me- 
chanics who  shall  build  a  house  thereon,  and  com- 
mence their  trade.  And,  in  order  to  ensure  a  sale 
for  all  articles  manufactured,  they  will  establish  a 
factor  in  Philadelphia,  and  another  in  New-York, 
to  receive  and  sell,  on  the  most  advantageous 
terms,  all  articles  sent  to  them.  For  this  purpose 
regular  waggons  will  be  employed  to  ply  between 
those  cities  and  the  society's  establishment.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  half  acre  lot,  given  to  the  mechanics, 
and  others,  lots  of  from  five  to  ten  acres,  already 
cleared,  sufficieut  to  keep  some  cows  and  a  horse 
if  needed  ;  and  also  wood  lots  for  firewood,  will 
be  laid  out,  and  sold  at  very  low  rates.  And  the 
general  .arrangement  of  the  village,  and  the  erec- 
tion of  schools  and  other  public  buildings,  will  be 
placed  under  the  care  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 


ROADS.  79 

village,  to  be  managed  in  such  manner  as  they 
shall  deem  best ;  the  object  of  the  society  being 
merely  to  make  arrangements  for  the  general  good, 
in  the  commencement  of  the  establishment. 


LETTER  X. 

Roads,  4*c. 


THERE  are  several  important  turnpike  roads  in 
the  county  of  Susquehanna,  of  which  one  is  finish- 
ed, and  the  others  have  a  ftir  prospect  of  being 
so,  the  next  season.  The  one  finished  is  from 
Newburg,  on  the  Hudson  river,  to  the  Susque- 
hanna. On  this  road  the  stage  passes  daily.  From 
the  city  of  New- York  to  Newburgh,  the  commu- 
nication is  by  a  steam  boat.  In  forty-eight  hours 
by  this  route,  a  passenger  arrives  in  Susquehanna 
from  the  city  of  New-York.  Another  road,  called 
the  Milford  and  Owego  turnpike,  passes  diagon- 
ally through  the  county.  At  Milford,  on  the  De~ 
laware  river,  it  unites  with  three  turnpikes,  all  lead- 
ing to  the  city  of  New- York,  by  different  routes. 
On  the  west  it  is  connected  at  Owego,  with  a  turn- 
pike which  leads  to  the  great  lakes.  The  greater 


80  ROADS. 

part  of  this  road  is  finished,  and  when  completed, 
it  will  form  the  most  extensive  and  important  con- 
nexion of  turnpike  roads  in  the  United  States ; 
opening  the  way  for  the  trade  and  travel  of  rich 
and  populous  districts,  with  the  city  of  New-York. 
Another  turnpike,  which  will  be  connected  with 
roads  leading  to  Sacket's  harbour,  on  lake  Ontario, 
and  the  St.  Lawrence  river,  is  laid  out,  and  partly 
made,  from  the  28th  mile  stone,  on  the  state  line, 
to  Wilkesbarre ;  from  which  place,  there  is  one 
finished  to  Easton,  on  the  way  to  Philadelphia. 

The  Philadelphia  and  New-York  turnpikes  in- 
tersect each  other  at  Montrose.  The  state  of  Penn- 
sylvania has  been  very  liberal  in  its  grants  of 
money  to  the  making  of  roads.  There  are  two 
other  turnpikes  laid  out,  but  on  which  the  com- 
pany have  not  yet  commenced  their  work.  The 
one  is  from  the  Newburgh  turnpike  to  Wilkes- 
barre ;  the  other  a  short  one  to  connect  the  New- 
burgh  and  Owego  turnpikes.  Besides  these,  the 
state  has  opened  a  road  which  commences  in  Sus- 
quehanua,  and  extends  through  all  the  counties  on 
its  northern  line.  From  this  statement,  you  will 
see  how  rapidly  improvements  are  made  in  this 
place;  and  as  the  public  attention  appears  to  be 
much  given  to  these  objects  of  national  importance, 
the  connexion  by  roads  and  canals,  of  the  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  republic  with  each  other,  will  be 
persevered  in,  till  the  national  enterprise,  inge- 
nuity and  perseverance,  shall  have  made  it  but  as 
a  step  to  pass  from  one  extremity  of  this  widely 


ROADS.  81 

extended  empire  to  the  other.  It  is  readily  per- 
ceivedi  that  this  facility  of  communication  adds 
greatly  to  the  strength  of  the  nation  ;  and  this 
government  is  too  wise  not  take  advantage  of  the 
means  which  nature  has  placed  in  its  hands,  to 
render  the  country  powerful  at  home,  as  well  as 
respected  abroad. 

The  common  or  private  roads,  made  by  the 
settlers,  are  in  general  very  bad.  They  are  made 
by  cutting  down  the  trees  close  to  the  ground, 
leaving  the  roots  in,  which  makes  them  very  un- 
pleasant for  a  horse  or  waggon ;  hi  addition  to 
which,  the  depth  of  the  soil  renders  them  very 
dirty  on  being  much  used.  But  when  the  roots 
have  remained  long  enough  to  be  in  some  mea- 
sure decayed,  it  is  found  to  be  easy  to  make  good 
roads,  by  ploughing  a  furrow  or  ditch  on  the  out- 
sides  and  throwing  the  earth  out  of  it  into  the  mid- 
dle of  the  roads.  The  labour  necessary  for  this, 
would  however  be  thought  too  great  by  Americans, 
on  their  first  settlement,  whose  object  it  is  to  cut 
down  the  trees  in  order  to  get  scope  enough  to 
raise  grain  for  their  families,  and  who  are  contented 
with  any  road  that  will  enable  them  to  get  about, 
until  they  find  the  means  of  support  springing  from 
their  industry.  It  is  not  till  the  settler  begins  to  feel 
his  abundance,  that  he  cares  for  the  improvement 
of  his  roads.  The  turnpikes  which  I  have  men- 
tioned, will  open  good  roads  to  the  cities  of  Phila- 
delphia and  New  York  ;  from  the  former  of  which 
pla^e  to  Montrose,  the  capital  of  this  county,  it  is 


82  ROADS. 

one  hundred  and  seventy  miles ;  and  from  New- 
York,  one  hundred  aud  thirty  miles.  The  Susque- 
hanna  river,  which  nearly  surrounds  this  county, 
offers  a  conveyance  by  water  to  Baltimore ;  which 
is  one  of  the  best  markets  in  the  United  States,  for 
the  produce  of  the  dairy.  Between  the  Society's 
settlement  and  Baltimore  all  the  land  carriage  is 
from  ten  to  twenty  miles. 

It  xvill  be  useful  here  to  mention  the  roads  by 
which  settlers  had  better  come  to  this  county  from 
Philadelphia  or  New  York,  which  are  the  usual 
landing  places  for  emigrants,  one  of  which  you  will 
endeavour  to  arrive  at.  From  Philadelphia  the 
road  is  by  Bethlehem  and  Wilkesbarre,  unless  you 
take  the  stage,  in  which  case  you  go  by  Easton. 
From  New-York,  the  best  way  is  to  go  by  steam- 
boat or  other  vessel,  to  Newburgh,  from  thence  by 
a  turnpike,  which  is  finished,  you  come  to  within 
ten  miles  of  Montrose. 

In  the  winter,  if  the  steam  boats  are  prevented 
from  passing  by  the  ice,  the  best  way  is  to  come 
from  New- York  by  Easton  and  Wilkesbarre,  to 
Montrose.  The  stages  now  come  to  within  ten 
miles  on  the  north,  and  twenty  miles  on  the 
south,  and  I  expect  by  next  season,  they  will  pass 
by  Montrose  in  all  directions. 

The  society  have  desired  me  to  answer  all  let- 
ters that  shall  be  written  to  me  on  the  subject  of 
the  settlement,  which  I  will  do  very  cheerfully,  as 
well  as  give  every  aid  in  my  power  to  all  our  de- 
serving countrymen,  who  wish  to  join  us.  Letters 


TAXES.  83- 

should  be  directed  to  me  at  Silver  Lake,  Susquc- 
luinna  county,  Pennsylvania. 


LETTER    XI. 
Taxes. 

THERE  are  no  state  taxes  in  Pennsylvania. 
Tiie  funds  of  the  government  are  sufficient,  not 
only  to  pay  all  the  expenses  of  her  legislation, 
judges,  &c.  but  to  enable  her  to  contribute  largely 
to  the  making  of  canals,  roads  and  bridges,  the 
erection  of  colleges  and  academies,  and  various 
other  improvements  throughout  the  state.  The 
only  taxes  paid  here  are  two ;  a  county  and  a  road 
tax.  The  former  is  raised  for  the  purpose  of  pay- 
ing the  fees  of  juries,  the  expenses  of  laying  out 
roads,  and  some  other  trifling  county  expenses, 
and  seldom  exceeds  one  dollar  on  an  hundred 
acres  of  land. 

You  will  observe  that  the  coins  used  here,  are 
dollars  and  cents,  the  dollar  being  equal  to  four 
shillings  and  six-pence  sterling,  and  the  cent  a 
small  copper  coin,  one  hundred  of  which  are  equal 
to  one  dollar;  each  cent  therefore  is  about  an 
halfpenny.  The  road  tax  is  for  the  purpose  of 
opening  and  improving  the  common  roads,  and  is 


84  TAXES* 

about  the  same  in  amount  as  the  connty  tax.  The 
county  tax  is  levied  by  three  commissioners  ap- 
pointed by  the  people  to  superintend  the  affairs 
of  the  county,  one  of  whom  is  chosen  annually. 
They  each  serve  three  years.  Is  is  their  duty  to 
estimate  the  probable  expense  of  the  county  for 
the  ensuing  year  and  to  levy  a  tax  accordingly. 
The  roads  are  under  the  inspection  of  two  super- 
visors, chosen  annually  by  the  people  of  each 
township.  Their  duty  is  to  open  the  roads,  and 
to  keep  them  in  repair;  and  for  this  purpose  they 
have  the  power  of  levying  the  tax  which  I  have 
mentioned.  This  tax  is  paid  by  labour,  and  is  so 
far  from  its  imposing  any  burthen,  that  in  some 
townships  the  settlers  have  voluntarily  doubled  the 
amount  of  labour  which  the  law  permitted  to  be 
imposed  upon  them. 

I  have  mentioned  these  as  being  the  only  taxes  ; 
an  act  of  assembly  provides  that  overseers  of  the 
poor  shall  be  annually  elected  in  the  respective 
townships  and  boroughs ;  but  this  is  useless  where 
there  are  no  poor.  I  say  no  poor,  for  Mr.^  R.  who 
is  the  largest  proprietor  "in  the  county,  and  whose 
lands  extend  into  eight  different  townships,  in 
forms  me,  that  all  the  poor  tax  assessed  on  him 
during  the  nine  years  which  he  has  resided  here, 
amounts  to  but  six«  dollars  and  ninety  eight  cents, 
and  this  was  for  the  purpose  of  conveying  a  person, 
not  an  inhabitant  of  this  county,  home.  When 
you  look  over  your  list  of  taxes,  how  many  will 
you  find  omitted  Iiere4  What  a  glorious  country 


V 
LABOURERS.  £5 

this  would  be  for  some  of  your  financiers  to  com- 
mence their  operations  in !  What  a  crop  they 
might  reap,  if  the  American  citizen  would  suffer 
them  to  put  their  sickles  into  the  harvest ! 

The  people  here  listen  as  to  a  romance,  when  I 
tell  them  of  our  tythes,  poor  rates,  window  tax, 
horse  duty,  dog  tax,  game  Jaws,  excise  laws,  &G.&C. 
Or  when  I  say  that  a  farmer  in  England  is  not  suf- 
fered to  make  his  own  soap  and  candles,  distill  his 
own  spirits,  make  his  own  malt,  or  grow  his  own 
hops,  without  being  taxed  for  it. 

And  yet  the  editor  of  the  Courier  tells  the  peo- 
ple of  England, "  the  thinking  people  of  England" 
that  America  is  heavily  taxed ;  that  New-York  is 
full  of  distressed  poor,  &c.  There  are  doubtless 
poor  in  New-York,  ys  there  must  be  in  all  cities, 
but  as  long  as  a  man  able  to  work,  can  earn  one 
dollar  per  day,  and  obtain  a  bushel  of  rye,  or 
Indian  corn,  or  20  pounds  of  beef,  for  that  dollar, 
I  ask  how  can  that  man  be  poor.  A  labourer  in 
this  country  can  always  have  six  days'  work  in  the 
week,  for  which  he  will  receive  six  dollars:  in 
England  propably  he  cannot  obtain  more  than  two 
or  three  days'  work  in  the  week,  and  he  receives 
perhaps  Is.  6d.  per  day.  How  great  the  contrast ! 
Would  an  industrious  English  labourer  complain 
of  poverty,  if  he  could  earn  twenty-seven  shillings 
per  week ;  and  buy  his  provisions  at  the  above 
prices,  and  that  in  a  country  where  he  conld  buy 
good  land  at  or  under  a  pound  per  acre !  would  he 
complain?  No.  The  question  is,  how  long  he 
II 


86  CLIMATE. 

would  continue  a  labourer.  He  would  soon  be- 
come a  proprietor ;  he  and  his  family  would  be 
rendered  comfortable  in  his  old  sge,  without  the 
unpleasant  reflection  of  becoming  a  burthen  to 
the  parish. 

This  same  newspaper  tells  c'  the  people  of  Eng- 
land" that  the  revenue  has  increased  three  millions 
sterling,  this  last  quarter.  How  many  poor 
wretches  have  suffered  for  this  increase,  1  leave 
you  to  judge,  who  are  in  the  centre  of  taxation. 


LETTER  XII. 

Climate. 

THE  winter  here  is  cold,  keen,  and  dry.  This 
last  particular  is  a  great  advantage,  both  for  health 
and  labour;  nothing  is  more  disagreeable  than  that 
kind  of  weather,  in  which  snow,  sleet,  and  rain  are 
all  mingled.  Here  the  winter  snows  usually  com- 
mence about  Christmas,  or  New  Year,  and  con- 
tinue on  the  ground  till  the  beginning  of  March ; 
forming  an  excellent  defence  for  the  roots  of  the 
grain  and  grass.  Little  or  no  rain  falls  during 
that  time ;  and  then  it  is  that  the  farmer  threshes 
out  his  grain,  and  takes  it  to  market.  This  is 
usually  done  in  sleds  or  sleighs,  which  are  much 


CLIMATE.  87 

easier  for  the  horse,  and  pleasanter  to  the  rider, 
than  waggons.  It  is  also  the  time  of  visitation  and 
hilarity.  People  then  visit  their  distant  friends  or 
relations ;  and  a  sleighing  frolic  is  highly  delight- 
ful to  the  younger  part  of  the  community.  You 
are  driven  along  like  the  liquid  lapse  of  a  boat 
down  the  stream,  or  the  transition  of  Milton's 
Angels,  "  smooth  sliding  without  step;"  at  least 
so  it  is  described  to  me,  who  have  not  yet  had 
an  opportunity  of  enjoying  its  pleasures.  The  sum- 
mer is  much  warmer  than  in  England,  or  there 
would  be  no  Indian  corn,  or  maize ;  a  most  impor- 
tant grain,  the  growth  of  which  Arthur  Young  con- 
siders the  test  of  a  good  climate.  It  is  not,  how- 
ever, so  hot  here  as,  at  Philadelphia;  and  still  less 
so  than  in  the  unsheltered  plains,  or  flats,  of  the 
south  western  states.  I  am  told,  that  no  day  is  too 
hot  here  for  a  man  to  work  in  the  harvest  fields  ; 
and  if  so,  I  am  sure  I  shall  never  object  to  the 
sun-beams  on  my  hay  or  corn. 

In  consequence  of  the  southern  latitude  of  this 
place,  the  difference  in  the  length  of  the  winter  and 
summer  day,  is  not  so  great  as  in  England.  The 
summer  day,  being  here,  one  hour  and  forty 
minutes  shorter,  and  the  winter  day  one  hour  and 
thirty  minutes  longer  than  in  England. 

In  Mr.  Cobbett's  publication,  which  I  send,  you 
will  see  his  diary  of  the  weather  during  the  last 
year.  The  weather  you  will  find  mentioned  there, 
is,  1  have  reason  to  think,  very  much  like  what  is 
experienced  here.  You  will  remark,  that  he  pre. 


CLIMATE. 

fers  the  weather  of  this  country  to  that  of  Great 
Britain.  It  has  been  observed  in  all  countries  that 
the  winter  becomes  milder  as  the  forests  are  cleared 
away.  Virgil,  Horace,  Pliny,  and  Juvenal,  all 
speak  of  the  ice  in  Italy  in  their  day ;  and  the 
rivers  of  ancient  Gaul  were  as  much  frozen  iu  the 
time  of  Julius  Caesar,  as  the  American  rivers  are 
now. — From  the  enquiries  which  I  have  made,  I 
believe  the  length  of  time  the  farmers  fodder  their 
cattle  here,  to  be  much  about  the  usual  time  we 
have  for  the  same  business  in  England.  The  spring 
commences  sooner  in  England  than  it  does  here ; 
but  the  gra^s  grows  with  more  rapidity  in  this 
country  than  in  that,  when  the  winter  is  gone, 

From  an  examination  of  meteorological  tables, 
long  kept,  it  appears  that  more  rain  falls  in  the 
United  States,  in  a  year,  than  in  Europe,  during  the 
same  time;  but  there  are  not  so  many  rainy  days 
here;  in  other  words,  less  of  mist  and  vapour. 
The  spring  much  resembles  our  English  spring, 
where  in  spite  of  all  that  is  said  or  sung  by  our 
Poets,  it  very  frequently  happens,  that 

"  Winter  lingering  chills  the  lap  of  May." 

When  the  spring  commences  here,  the  influence 
of  the  sun,  in  consequence  of  the  more  southern 
situation,  is  more  decisive  than  in  England.  The 
American  autumn  is  much  finer  than  in  our  island ; 
and  there  is  none  of  that  misty,  foggy,  raining, 
soul-subduing  weather,  over  which  all  the  blue 
demons  hover,  like  an  assemblage  of  Fuseli's  night- 
mares ;  and  to  which  some  Frenchman  alludes, 


SALUBRITY.  89 

when  he  begins  his  romance  with,  "  It  was  in  the 
"  gloomy  month  of  November,  when  Englishmen 
«'  hang  themselves."  Here  the  sun  is  bright  and 
beaming,  and  the  November  which  I  have  passed 
here,  was  as  fine  as  an  English  September. 

I  was  desirous  of  procuring  a  statement  of  all  the 
births  and  deaths  which  had  occurred  in  this  town- 
ship (Silver  Lake)  since  its  first  settlement ,  but  as 
no  such  record  had  been  kept,  and  as  the  early  set- 
tlers are  little  careful  to  remember  these  events,  I 
found  this  impossible.  My  next  attempt  was  to 
learn  who  amongst  all  the  heads  of  families  had 
died  within  that  time  ;  and  in  this  I  was  more  suc- 
cessful. Mr.  Bliss,  the  near  neighbour  of  Mr.  R., 
a  vej  y  respectable  man,  and  a  magistrate,  was  the 
earliest  settler,  after  him,  in  the  township.  He  as- 
sures me,  that  among  the  heads  of  families  only 
one  had  died  since  the  first  settlement,  which  was 
nine  years  ago.  There  are  now  seventy  families, 
or  one  hundred  and  forty  heads  of  families,  settled 
in  the  township.  As  the  increase  of  settlement  has 
been  pretty  regular,  it  would  be  fair  to  suppose 
this  equal  to  the  residence  of  half  that  number  for 
the  whole  time;  or  seventy  multiplied  by  nine, 
which  would  give  630  for  one  year.  Now,  it  is 
calculated  in  Europe,  that  of  one  thousand  persons 
living  in  large  cities,  thirty-five  or  thirty*  six  die 
annually;  and  in  country  places,  twenty -eight  or 
thirty  die  out  of  that  number,  in  the  same  space 
of  time ;  while,  according  to  the  above  statement, 
the  deaths  in  this  township  have  been  only  as  one 
H  2 


90  SALUBRITY,  MUSQUITOES. 

in  six  hundred  and  thirty.  If  it  be  said,  that  in 
this  estimate  of  from  twenty-eight  to  thirty  deaths 
happening  in  a  thousand,  it  is  meant  to  be  extended 
to  young  and  old,  of  whom,  indiscriminately,  more 
would  die  than  of  heads  of  families,  taken  at  the 
most  vigorous  period  of  life ;  then,  let  us  make 
an  estimate  on  that  ground,  and  take  thirty  as  the 
age  to  make  the  calculation  on.  A  person  if  thirty 
will,  probably,  live  thirty-two  years ;  divide  six 
hundred  and  thirty  by  thirty-two,  and  we  find  the 
chance  is,  that  twenty  will  die  in  a  twelve  month 
out  of  that  number.  According  to  Dr.  Price's 
calculations  of  life,  the  chance  of  a  person  thirty 
years,  old  is  twenty-three  years  and  six  months ; 
which  would  give  nearly  twenty-seven  deaths  in 
six  hundred  and  thirty ;  while  here  there  has  been 
hut  one  death.  This  is  a  very  surprising  statement  ; 
but  I  am  well  satisfied  of  its  correctness.  Indeed 
the  aspect  of  the  country  gives  promise  of  its 
healthiness : 

The  fountain's  fall,  the  rivers  flow, 
The  woody  vallies,  warm  and  low, 
The  windy  summit  wild  and  high, 

all  so  opposite  to  the  stagnant  waters,  and  dead 
levels  of  the  western  "  prairies,"  indicate  the  purity 
of  its  streams,  and  the  salubrity  of  its  air. 

Its  exemption  from  musquitoes,  is  indicated  by  its 
freedom  from  the  "  green  mantle  of  the  standing 
•"  pool,"  so  common  in  the  western  countries,  whose 


MUSQUITOES,    BRISSOT.  91 

musquitoes  and  frogs  chase  sleep  from  the  eyes  of 
many  a  weary  traveller. 

"  Mali  culices  ranaeque  palustres  avertunt  sonmos," 

unless  they  are  grossly  misrepresented  by  many  of 
our  disappointed  countrymen,  who,  "  through 
"  brake,  through  bog,  through  bush,  and  through 
«'  brier,"  have  plodded  to  those  distant  regions, 
in  search  of  a  new  Utopia,  and  who,  on  their  re- 
turn, spoke  of  the  musquitoe's  buz  in  a  tone 
which  would  justify  the  exclamation  of  the  poet, 

Hark,  his  shrill  horn  its  fearful  larum  flings ! 
I  wake  in  horror,  and  dare  sleep  no  more ! 

But  though  this  tormentor  is  diminutive,  he  is  not 
the  less  to  be  dreaded ;  besides  his  buz  and  bite, 
his  presence  indicates  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
pestilential  marsh,  from  which  he  sprang.  The 
number  of  musquitoes,  that  I  was  assured  1  should 
meet  on  the  western  waters,  was  a  strong  induce- 
ment for  me  to  turn  my  course  to  a  higher  and 
drier  country,  in  which  I  and  my  friends  might 
hope  to  forget  the  toils  of  the  day  in  tranquil  re* 
pose. 

In  the  commencement  of  the  French  Revolution, 
Brissot  was  sent  to  the  United  States  by  some  of 
his  co-patriots,  to  select  a  body  of  land  for  them 
to  settle  on,  if  they  should  be  so  fortunate  as  to 
keep  their  necks  from  under  the  national  axe. 


92      BRISSOT,  DISEASES  OF  THE  WEST. 

They  desired  him  to  be  particularly  careful  to  avoid 
every  place  where  there  were  musquitoes.  However 
visionary  they  were  in  some  of  their  instructions, 
there  was  much  sound  sense  in  this  caution.  I  do 
not  know  whether  Brissot  found  what  he  sought. 
Instead  of  remaining  here  in  safety,  he  returned 
to  France,  and  was  sent  to  the  guillotine,  by  the 
sanguinary  demon  who  "rode in  the  whirlwind,  and 
directed  the  storm"  of  the  revolution,  at  its  most 
desolating  period.  Alas !  the  sound  of  the  toscin 
was  worse  than  even  the  buz  of  the  niusquitoe, 
and  the  axe's  edge  sharper  than  its  bite.  A 
strongly  marked  passage  in  the  letter  of  instruc- 
tions given  to  me  by  my  friends  in  England  is — 

"  LET  NO  CONSIDERATION  TEMPT  YOU  TO 
"  SELECT  AN  UNHEALTHY  SITUATION.'* — 

This  appears  to  me  to  be  decisive  against  a  flat 
and  low  country. 

Volney,  who  travelled  through  them,  speaking 
of  the  flat  countries  in  the  western  parts  of  Ame- 
rica, says,  "  Autumnal  intcrmittents  prevail  to  a 
"  degree  scarcely  credible.  In  a  journey  of  seven 
"  hundred  miles,  I  scarcely  found  twenty  houses 
"  free  from  agues  and  fevers.  Ail  the  banks  of  the 
"  Ohio,  and  a  great  part  of  Kentucky,  of  Lake 
ft  Erie,  the  Genesee  country,  and  its  lakes  and 
"  rivers,  are  annually  infested  with  them.  In  a 
"  journey  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  from 
"  Cincinnati  to  Detroit,  began  on  the  eighth  of 
"  September,  in  a  company  of  twenty-five  persons, 
"  we  did  not  encamp  one  night  without  one,  at 


DISEASES   OF   THE   WEST.  93 

"  the  least,  of  the  party  being  seized  with  a  peri' 
"  oclical  fever.  At  Greenville  three  hundred  per- 
"  sons,  out  of  three  hundred  and  seventy,  were 
"  sick  of  fevers.  On  arriving  at  Detroit,  only  three 
*'  of  our  party  were  in  health;  and  on  the  ensuing 
"  day,  our  commander,  Major  Swan,  and  myself 
"  were  both  seized  with  a  malignant  fever.  This 
"  fever  annually  visits  the  garrison  of  Miami  Fort, 
"  where  it  has  more  than  once  assumed  the  form 
"  of  yellow  fever."  Those  who  are  most  inter- 
ested in  giving  a  favourable  report  of  the  western 
country,  cannot  avoid  its  uuhealthiness  being  dis- 
covered. I  have  before  me  a  publication  by  a 
Mr.  Latham,  who  keeps  an  office  for  the  sale  of 
land  in  Chilicothe,  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  dated  on 
the  2nd  of  November  last.  He  is  anxious  to  in- 
duce settlers  to  purchase  lauds  there,  and,  conse- 
quently, may  be  supposed  to  be  inclined  to  think 
as  favourable  as  he  can  of  the  climate,  and  to 
speak  as  favourably  as  he  thinks.  At  least  he  who 
acts  as  an  auctioneer,  will  not  display  the  worst 
side  of  his  goods.  Mr.  Latham  says,  "  If  we  have 
"  any  diseases  which  we  may  consider  endemical, 
"  they  are  those  of  a  bilious  and  febrile  character. 
-*'  In  the  first  settlement  of  this  country  bilious  and 
"  intermitting  fevers  are  not  unfrequent.  The 
"  cause  is  obvious:  the  people  in  most  instances 
"  locate  themselves  on  the  borders  of  the  streams, 
"  often  subject  to  inundations,  and  perhaps  in  the 
•'  immediate  vicinity  of  stagnant  ponds  of  water, 
"  pr  wet  marshy  ground,  and  they  mostly  lived  in 


94  DISEASES    OF   THE   WEST. 

"  open  cabins,  exposed  to  the  damp  night  air. 
"  In  such  situations,  and  under  such  circumstan- 
"  ces,  it  was  hardly  possible  to  escape  a  '  season- 
"  ing.*  On  the  contrary,  when  emigrants  have 
"  selected  scites  for  their  dwelling  on  eminences, 
"  or  on  high  and  dry  land,  removed  from  the  in- 
"  undated  bottoms,  from  ponds  of  stagnant  waters, 
"  and  from  wet  marshy  ground ;  and  have  not 
"  unnecessarily  exposed  themselves  to  the  damp  of 
"  the  evening  air :  during  the  summer  season  there 
"  are  but  very  few  (if  any)  instances  which  are 
"  referable  to  climate." 

The  bilious  and  febrile  diseases  which  Mr.  L. 
mentions  as  endemic,  are  those  to  be  most  sedu- 
lously avoided.  They  are,  necessarily,  attendants 
on  those  situations  which  border  on  the  streams 
subject  to  inundations;  or  those  which  are  in  the 
vicinity  of  stagnant  ponds  and  marshy  grounds. 
These  are  so  common  in  the  western  states,  that  a 
"  seasoning"  is  spoken  of  as  such  a  matter  of 
course,  that  to  have  any  chance  of  avoiding  if,  it 
is  necessary  to  seek  out  particular  situations,  and 
even  then  the  poor  settler  must  be  careful  to  avoid 
exposure  to  the  "  damp  of  the  evening  air  during 
"  the  summer  season."  Is  it  expected,  that  in 
the  most  healthy  parts  of  Ohio,  a  settler,  must, 
after  dusk,  confine  himself  to  the  house?  If  so, 
the  condition  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  part  of  the 
country  must  be  very  deplorable.  And  if  Ameri- 
cans themselves  are  so  likely  to  undergo  the  "  sea- 
"  soiling,"  what  might  not  an  Englishman  dread ! 


DISEASES   OF   THE   WEST.  95 

But  this  exposure  to  bilious  fevers  is  far  from 
being  confined  to  the  lands  watered  by  the  Ohio; 
it  extends,  with  few  intermissions,  along  the  Mis- 
sissipi  to  its  entrance  into  the  Gulf  streams,  in 
consequence  of  the  flat  and  marshy  state  of  the 
country  on  its  banks.  Mr.  Schultz,  a  very  intelli- 
gent traveller,  himself  an  American,  speaking  of  the 
Walnut  Hills,  says,  "  the  men  generally  had  a  sickly 
"  appearance,  but  the  women  and  girls  looked  fresh 
"  and  sprightly.  From  their  own  account,  bow- 
"  ever,  they  considered  the  situation  as  unhealthy. 
"  If  this  is  the  case,  it  is  my  opinion  that  there  is 
"  flot  a  spot  on  the  whole  Mississipi,  below  the 
"  /nouthof  the  Ohio,  fit  for  the  residence  of  man." 
And  in  a  late  work  on  Louisiana,  by  Mr.  Brecken- 
ridge,  of  the  Maryland  legislature,  this  gentleman 
observes :  "  The  settlements  of  this  territory  have, 
"  in  some  measure,  attained  the  character  of  being 
"  unhealthy.  It  is  a  prevailing  notion,  that  to  be 
"  sick  the  first  summer  is  what  every  settler  must 
"  expect.  In  some  parts  of  the  territory,  this 
"  seasoning  is  severely  paid ;  but  in  other  parts  of 
*'  the  territory,  I  can  say  with  confidence,  that 
"  not  more  than  one  tenth  undergo  it.  From  the 
"  first  of  August  to  the  last  of  September,  is  con- 
"  sidered  the  most  unhealthy.  The  last  season 
"  was  uncommonly  unhealthy  throughout  the  wes- 
"  tern  country,  and  this  territory  experienced  it 
"  in  a  degree  not  much  less  than  many  other  places. 
"  The  natives  and  the  oldest  inhabitants  were  at- 
"  tacked,  as  well  as  strangers*  This  season  did 


96   FIRST  QUESTIONS  OF  AN  EMIGRANT. 

"  great  injury  to  the  commencing  emigration  to 
"  this  country.     Many  who  had  suffered  retired 
"  from   it;    and  others    who   had  determined   to 
"  come,  changed  their  minds."     What   must  we 
think  of  a  situation   where  an  apologist  for  the 
territory  is  obliged  to  concede,  that  in  the  most 
healthy  parts  of  it,  one  tenth  of  its  settlers  have 
to  undergo  what  he  very  ominously  calls  a  season- 
ing! somewhat  more  serious  than  that  of  Cole- 
man's  «'  fat  single  gentleman."     If  the  natives  of 
the  western  states,  and  even   those  born  in   the 
*'  western  country,"  experience  the  ill  effects  of 
the  unhealthiness  of  the  climate,  how  much  more 
are  they  to  be  apprehended  by  a  foreigner.     But 
in  some  parts  of  the  United  States,  idleness  is 
considered  so  great  a  blessing,  that  I  am  not  sure  if 
many  would  not  purchase  it  at  the  expense  of  a 
bilious  or  intermitting  fever.     How  strange  it  is, 
that  the  father  of  a  family  will  take  that  family  to 
a  situation  where  he  knows  they  will  be  exposed 
to  an  enemy,  against  whom  here  can  be  no  pro- 
tection !     One  would  suppose  that  such  a  person 
must  believe  firmly  in  the  fatalism  of  the  Turks 
which  induces  them  to  die  of  the  plague  by  thou- 
sands, rather  than  use  the  salutary  precautions  o 
their  Frank  neighbours.     Is  the  country  healthy  ? 
should  be  the  first  question  of  an  English  settler 
when  about  to  establish    his   habitation.     Is  the 
water  good?  should  be  his  second.    Wherever  the 
eountfy   is   flat,    the  water  must  be  stagnant,  ant 
consequently  impure.     Wherever  the  water  is  im 


MANNERS,    RELIGION,   POLITICS.      97* 

pure,  the  country  must  be  unhealthy.  If  the  pain 
of  sickness  could  be  disregarded,  the  advantages 
of  health  are  all  important  to  the  farmer.  Of 
what  use  is  the  greatest  fertility  of  soil,  if  he  is 
too  ill  to  sow  his  grain !  Of  what  advantage  is 
the  most  abundant  crop,  if  his  debility  prevents 
his  taking  hold  of  the  sickle!  And  yet,  his  own 
sickness  is  but  a  part  of  his  sufferings :  his  wife 
and  children  have  also  to  participate  iu  the  dan- 
gers and  diseases  that  pervade  his  abode. 

In  the  country  in  which  we  have  fixed  ourselves, 
we  have  a  good  soil,  pure  water,  and  a  climate 
which  accords  well  with  an  English  constitution. 
We  have  therefore  only  to  use  that  industry,  which 
English  farmers  boast  of  possessing  at  home,  and 
we  shall  hope  to  contribute  in  some  degree  to  the 
abundance  of  the  country  of  which  we  have  become 
citixens,  and  by  doing  so  to  give  a  stimulus  to  some 
of  the  many  shuttles  and  hammers  of  old  England! 


LETTER  XIII. 

Manners,  Religion,  Politics. 

You  will  expect  me  to  say  something  of  the  so- 
ciety and  manners  of  the  people  among  whom  you 
are  invited  to  reside.  This  is  a  more  difficult  task 
than  that  of  analysing  the  quality  of  the  soil,  or 
classing  the  varieties  of  the  timber.  Many  of  our 


08  LITERATURE,  EDUCATION. 

countrymen  ridicule  the  manners  of  the  higher 
classes  of  the  people  of  the  United  States,  with  a 
view  I  believe  of  having  it  supposed  that  they 
moved  in  a  superior  station  at  home.  For  my 
part,  1  have  experienced  much  politeness  and 
urbanity ;  and  so  far  as  my  testimony  will  go,  it 
is  in  favour  of  the  frank  and  courteous  demeanour 
of  the  gentlemen  of  this  country ;  among  whom 
there  is  to  be  found  an  abundant  share  of  good 
sense  and  liberal  feelings.*  As  to  the  «*  very 
learned,'  they  are  not  to  be  expected  to  abound 
here,  as  in  Europe,  where  learning  is  a  trade, 
which  numbers  are  brought  up  to.  The  Americans 
suffer  us  to  manufacture  books  for  them,  as  well 
as  the  cutlery  and  cottons  which  they  consume. 
But  although  they  write  little  on  general  topics, 
they  read  much ;  and  you  see  no  house  without 
books  in  it.  1  was  pleased  to  find  in  this  new  town- 
ship a  public  library,  which  was  commenced  by  a 
donation  of  books  from  Mr.  R.  and  some  of  his 
friends,  and  is  supported  by  a  small  annual  contri- 
bution from  those  who  enjoy  its  advantages.  An 
institution  of  this  nature  is  peculiarly  advantage- 
ous to  youth,  among  whom  I  have  always  obser- 

*  In  corroboration  of  this  remark,  Mr.  Hall,  whom 
I  have  already  mentioned,  permits  me  to  extract  the 
following  passage  from  a  letter  which  he  received  from 
Lord  Selkirk,  dated  Huntingdon,  8th  June,  1810  : — "  It 
is  truly  gratifying  to  a  Briton  to  find  that  the  most 
estimable  part  of  your  nation  are  those  who  are  the 
most  partial  to  the  land  of  thtir  auqestors.'' 


LITERATURE,  EDUCATION.  99 

ved  that  a  taste  for  reading  is  very  generally  at- 
tended with  propriety  of  behaviour  and  sound 
morals. 

I  had  formed  an  erroneous  opinion  of  a  woods- 
man. I  expected  to  find  rude  manners ;  but  the 
people  here  behave  with  great  civility  and  propri- 
ety. I  have  not  heard  a  single  instance  of  profane 
language,  or  indecent  expression,  in  this  settle- 
ment. An  air  of  comfort  pervades  the  habitations 
of  the  humblest  kind ;  and  in  general,  the  demea- 
nour of  the  wife  shews  her  to  have  her  full  share 
of  the  family  controul.  These  people  are  almost 
all  from  the  New  England  states;  by  which  name 
is  designated  the  section  of  country  north  and 
east  of  New  York,  which  has  always  been  re- 
marked for  the  enterprise  and  good  moral  conduct 
of  its  citizens.  To  the  inhabitants  of  this  section 
of  the  United  States,  who '  are  also  distinguished 
by  their  shrewdness,  the  term  Yankee  is  applied ; 
and  not  as  it  is  understood  in  England,  to  all  the 
states — a  Yankee,  therefore,  means  a  native  of 
New  England.  The  civility  of  disposition  in  which 
they  are  educated  at  home,  is  taken  abroad  with 
them ;  and  they  are  said  to  form  a  class  of  settlers 
far  superior  to  those  who  emigrate  from  the 
southern  states  to  the  western  wilderness. 

As  the  means  of  supporting  a  family  are  within 
the  reach  of  every  one;  people  here  marry  young, 
and  look  out  for  habitations  afterwards.  They  dis- 
play a  very  commendable  attention  to  the  education 
of  their  children,  and  as  soon  as  half  a  dozen  houses 


100  EDUCATION,    RELIGION. 

are  built  in  a  new  settlement,  a  school  js  established, 
where,  in  the  summer,  the  younger  children  arc 
taught  by  a  girl ;  and  in  winter  those  that  are 
somewhat  older  by  one  of  the  settlers,  who  takes 
upon  himself  the  task  of  school-master.  All  ciu 
read,  write  and  cypher.  The  equality  of  rights 
which  they  possess,  naturally  produces  an  equality, 
or  similarity  of  manners  ;  and  as  they  enjoy  the 
same  latitude  in  religion  as  in  political  opinions, 
there  is,  so  far  as  I  have  observed,  very  little  dis- 
cord between  the  various  sects.  What  a  happiness 
it  would  be  to  the  world,  if  all  who  read  the  ex- 
hortation of  the  apostle,  to  Faith,  Hope,  and 
Charity,  would  impress  upon  their  minds  his  de- 
claration, that  the  greatest  of  these  is  Charity ; 
and  the  necessity  of  "  avoiding  foolish  questions 
"  and  genealogies,  and,  contentions  and  strivings 
"  about  the  law ; — for  they  are  unprofitable  and 
"  vain  !"  and  yet,  although  this  is  said  by  one  of 
the  greatest  of  the  apostles  to  a  bishop  of  the 
church,  I  fear  it  has  often  been  overlooked,  and 
its  meek  and  Christian  spirit  neglected. 

In  this  township  there  is  no  minister  yet  estab- 
lished. It  is  customary  for  the  settlers  to  assemble 
on  Sundays :  prayers  are  said  by  some  one,  with 
much  apparent  devotion  ;  a  hymn  or  psalm  is  sung 
in  parts,  for  most  of  them  have  been  taught 
psalmody,  accompanied  by  instrumental  music,  as 
a  violincello,  flutes,  &c.  A  sermon  from  some  ap- 
proved divine  is  read ;  and  I  must  say,  that  this 
simple  family  worship  has  effects  upon  me,  as 
powerful  as  a  discourse  in  a  cathedral. 


SLAVERY,  ROBBERIES,  &C.  101 

No  slavery  is  permitted  in  Pennsylvania;  the 
toleration  of  which  in  the  southern  states,  is  of  in- 
calculable mischief;  and  it  is  an  evil  which  it  is 
extremely  difficult  to  get  rid  of;  for  even  those 
who  are  opposed  to  slavery,  dread  the  effects  of  an 
universal  emancipation  of  the  blacks.  A  society 
has  been  established  by  some  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished men  in  the  United  States  for  colonizing 
them,  from  whose  efforts  much  may  be  hoped. 

In  the  country  robberies  are  almost  unheard 
of;  and  when  they  occur  in  the  cities,  they  are 
generally  found  to  be  committed  by  some  abandoned 
outcast  from  Europe,  whom  justice  has  driven  from 
her  shores.  It  is  a  fact,  that  of  the  criminals  in 
American  courts  of  justice,  a  very  great  proportion 
are  foreigners.  Indeed,  an  American  to  whom  the 
means  of  support  are  abundant,  has  no  excuse  for 
being  a  knave. 

Mendicity  is  so  rare  in  this  state,  that  from  my 
landing  at  Philadelphia  to  the  present  time,  I  have 
not  seen  a  beggar.  Perhaps  no  better  proof  can  be 
given  of  the  general  prosperity  of  its  inhabitants. 

The  native  Indians  of  this  country  are  said  to 
have  a  great  capability  of  action,  but  to  be  much 
addicted  to  idleness.  I  cannot  help  thinking  this  a 
part  of  the  character  of  the  people  whom  lam  among. 
I  find  a  man,  whose  enterprise  has  led  him  from  the 
home  of  his  parents,  many  hundred  miles  into  the 
forests,  to  make  a  home  for  himself ;  but  after  cut- 
ting down  a  few  trees,  that  he  may  enjoy  the  rays 
12 


102  IDLENESS,   POLITICS. 

of  the  sun,  he  contents  himself  with  the  exertions 
he  has  made,  and  sits  down  to  bask  in  its  beams. 
Here  are  persons  capable  of  any  thing,  but  the 
steady  plodding  labour,  so  necessary  for  the  pros- 
perity of  the  farmer,  or  mechanic.  This  may  in  a 
great  degree,  arise  from  the  want  of  an  early  appli- 
cation to  one  particular  pursuit.  Every  one  chooses 
his  own  occupation,  and  is  any  thing,  or  nothing, 
just  as  it  happens,  or  inclination  leads.  The  result, 
however,  of  this  laxity  of  discipline,  is  a  far  greater 
degree  of  general  knowledge,  than  can  be  found 
among  the  same  class  of  society,  in  any  other 
country. 

On  the  subject  of  politics  but  little  is  heard  out 
of  the  large  cities.  In  all  popular  governments 
there  must  be  some  who  are  striving  to  get  into 
place,  and  others  who  are  endeavouring  to  retain 
it.  There  will,  therefore,  be  collisions ;  and  where 
the  press  is  free,  we  may  expect  altercation  between 
adverse  parties.  Of  this  we  have  abundant  evi- 
dence at  home.  While  Buonaparte  swayed  the 
French  sceptre,  the  parties  in  the  United  States 
were  violent,  and  ranged  themselves  under  the 
name  of  federalists  and  democrats  ;  the  one  being 
stigmatised  as  an  English,  the  other  as  a  French 
faction.  They  are,  however,  both  Republicans, 
and  differ  only  in  a  slight  degree  in  their  opinions 
on  the  administration  of  the  government.  The 
federalist  advocated  a  navy,  for  the  support  of  the 
pommerce  of  the  country ;  a  small  body  of  troops, 
to  garrison  the  forts  on  the  frontiers,  as  a  security 


NAVY.  103 

against  Indian  incursions  ;    and  a  direct  tax,  com- 
petent  to  sustain  the  expences  which    these  es- 
tablishments require.     The  democratic  party  op- 
posed these.  Bat  the  late  unfortunate  war  between 
our  country  aud  the  United  States,  destroyed  all 
political  differences  and  harmonized  the  parties. 
All  now  appear  to  be  convinced  of  the  necessity 
of  a  navy,  as  a  guard  for  the  ocean  frontier;    and 
of  a   body  of  troops,   as  a  barrier    against  the^ 
Indian  depredations,  on  the  side  of  the  woods.    It 
was  found  that  calling  a  farmer  from  his  plough, 
and  making  him  inarch  to  the  frontier,  was  a  most 
expensive  and  oppressive  mode  of  defence ;    and 
against  an  enemy  invading  on  the  sea  side,   the 
militia  of  the  country  could  be  of  litlle  service, 
A  thousand  regular  troops  conveyed  in  transports, 
that  one  day  could  make  their  attack  in  one  place, 
and  in  a  week's  time  could  attack  in  another,   a 
thousand  miles  off,   could  keep  an  hundred  thou- 
sand militia  in  employ,  at  an  enormous  expense  to 
the  government.     I  believe  all  parties  unite  now 
in  one  sentiment,  as  to  the  best  modes  of  offence 
and  defence ;    and  that  there  is   no  back-woods- 
man to   be  found,  who  is   not  aware,  that  it  is 
cheaper  and  better  for  him  to  pay  his  proportion 
of  the  expense  of  a  sailor's  maintenance,  than  to 
turn  out  with  his  rifle,  to  defend   the  sea  board 
against  the  attack  of  line  of  battle  ships.     The 
perfection  to  which  the  Americans  have  brought 
their  naval  armament,  has  been  seen  with  surprise 
by  all  the  nations  of  Europe,  and  is  a  necessary 


104  AMERICAN    TARS. 

consequence  of  their  activity  and  extended  com- 
merce. 

The  success  of  most  of  their  different  combats 
against  our  vessels  of  war,  has  also  tended  to  make 
the  navy  a  favourite  with    the  people ;    and  the 
merits  of  their  victorious  officers  have  been  in- 
dustriously proclaimed  by  public  dinners  and  en- 
tertainments, songs,  speeches,  &c.    Their  portraits 
adorn   the   public   offices,   splendid   swords   and 
medals  incite  their  emulation,  and  the  freedom  of 
the  city,   immortalizes   their  achievements.     You 
will  remember  the  mortification  we  used  to  feel, 
at  reading  the  accounts  of  the  capture  of  our  ships 
of  war,  and  the  great  unwillingness  with  which  we 
gave  credit  to  the  facts ,  but  1  can  now  readily  see 
the  causes  of  our  defeats,  and  should  be  surprised 
if  such  had  not  been  the  result  of  the  different 
actions.    The  American  ships  are  larger  than  ours 
of  the  same  grade ;  in  most  instances  they  have 
had  a  greater  number  of  guns  ;    and  in  all  cases, 
were  manned  with  selected  crews.     Many  of  the 
sailors  on  board  American  ships  are  British  sub- 
jects, and  of  whatever  country  they  may  be,  they 
have  all  gone  on  board  voluntarily — for  in   this 
country  our  disgraceful  system  of  impressment  is 
unknown.     We  opposed  all  these  advantages,  by 
ships  of  a  less  size,  fewer  guns,  and  smaller  crews ; 
and  even  those  in  most  instances,  were  composed, 
in  great  part,  of  persons  who  had  been  compelled 
to  serve.     In  such  cases  the  result  must  ever  be  as 
it  was.     Wars  are  always  unfortunate,  and  disaste- 


AMERICAN    TARS.  106 

rous ;  but  they  are  particularly  so  when  they  occur 
between  nations  ot  the  same  language,  religion, 
habits  and  morals.  The  Americans  deserve  great 
credit  for  the  urbanity  and  kindness  which  they 
displayed  after  victory' ;  and  this  was  not  confined 
to  the  officers,  but  extended  to  the  rough  tars, 
whose  hearts  melted  at  the  sufferings  of  their  foe. 
When  the  Peacock  was  sunk  by  the  Hornet,  and 
the  crew  of  the  former  vessel  escaped  witb  nothing 
but  their  clothes,  the  sailors  of  the  Hornet  pre- 
sented each  man  with  another  suit  from  their 
purser's  stores,  Wiieri  the  captured  crews  were 
landed  on  the  shores  of  the  United  States,  they 
were  in  many  instances,  permitted  to  mingle  as 
they  pleased  with  the  citizens,  and  to  become 
citizens  themselves.  The  crew  of  the  Guerrier, 
captured  by  the  Constitution,  was  landed  at  New 
London,  and  many  of  them  proceeded  immediately 
into  the  country,  and  became  farmers  or  labourers 
of  different  kinds.  A  gentleman  who  was  at 
New  London  at  the  time  they  were  landed,  met  a 
dozen  of  them  some  miles  out  of  town,  proceeding 
merrily  along,  with  their  bundles  on  their  backs  ; 
he  asked  them  where  they  were  going:  "  to  see 
our  uncles,"  said  one  of  them  laughing.  Indeed, 
I  fancy  they  found  more  "  uncles"  in  this  country, 
if  hospitality  could  create  a  relationship,  than  (jhey 
Jeft  behind  them  in  Old  England.  Is  it  any  wonder, 
therefore,  that  our  sailors  should  not  fight  with 
their  accustomed  spirit  against  such  a  country  as 
this  ;  when  they  felt  that  a  defeat  might  bestow 


106    VERSATILITY  OF  THE  AMERICANS. 

upon  them  an  invaluable  blessing,  by  placing! 
them  on  a  soil  which  is  emphatically  the  hind  of 
freedom  ? 

The  versatility  of  disposition  and  facility  \vilh 
which  an  American  passes  from  one  thing  to  anotherj 
lias  been  remarked  by  every  one  who  has  visited;- 
their  country.     The  pioughboy  becomes  a  lawyer ;, 
the  doctor,  a  divine ;    the  mechanic,  a  member  off 
Congress;    the  school- master,  a  statesman;    the| 
merchant,  an  ambassador.    This  versatility  is  very'' 
conspicuous    in    their    naval    officers.      Captain 
'M'Donongb,  who  took  the  British  fleet  on  Lake 
Champlain,    was  a    merchant ;    Capt.  Lawrence, 
who  in  the  sloop  Hornet  sunk  the  Peacock,  was  a, 
lawyer;    Capt.  Jones,  who  in  the  Wasp  took  the 
Frolic,  was  a  doctor;    and  probably,  most  of  the 
others  commenced  with  some   business  or  profes- 
sion equally  discordant  to  their  present  pursuit. 

If  this  occurs  in  the  navy,  you  may  readily  ex- 
pect to  find  the  same  thing  taking  place  in  the 
army.  The  most  decisive  action  in  the  late  war, 
and  the  one  that  we  had  the  most  signal  cause  to 
lament,  was  the  battle  of  New  Orleans,  in  which 
the  Americans  were  commanded  by  General 
Jackson,  who  was  a  judge,  and  who  left  the; 
beifch  to  assume  the  General's  truncheon. — 
What  would  be  thought  of  one  of  our  judges, 
throwing  ofF  his  robes  and  wig,  and  offering 
to  head  an  army?  When  the  frontier  inhabitants 
were  scalped  and  tomahawked  by  the  savages, 
of  whose  merciless  ravages  an  Englishman  can 


GENERAL    JACKSON.  107 

form ,  no  idea,    unless   he    will  imagine  his   own 
family  exposed  to  a  troop  of  wolves  or  tygers,  infu- 
riated by  hunger,  Judge  Jackson  took  the  com. 
mand   of  a   hastily  raised   troop  of  militia,  with 
which,  together    with  a   few  regular  troops,   he 
marched  against  the  Indian  towns ;  and  in  a  cam- 
paign, which  rather  resembled  a  triumphal  march 
across  the  country,  he  put  an  end  to  the  war.     He 
has  been   accused  of  unnecessary   severity ;    but 
I'hat  can  be  called  unnecessary  severity,  against 
n  enemy  whose  mode  of  warfare  is  an  indiscri- 
ninate   massacre  of  every  age,  and  to  whom  the 
nother  and  the  infant  plead  alike  in  vain.     Speak- 
ng  of  this  savage  ferocity,  it  has  been  said  by  an 
minent  American  Statesman,  who  was  distinguish- 
d  as  a  friend  to  Great  Britain,  as  well  as  to  his 
Avn  country,  "  On  this   theme   my  emotions  are 
inutterabie.     If  I  could  find  words  for  them,  if 
ny  powers  bore   any  proportion  to  ray   zeal,   I 
vould   swell   my  voice  to  such  a  note  of  remon- 
trance,  that  it  should  reach  every  log  house  be- 
'oud  the   mountains.     I  would  say  to  the  inhabi- 
ants,  wake  from  your  security,  your  cruel  danger, 
our  more  cruel  apprehensions  are  soon  to  be  re- 
lewed !    The  wounds  yet  unhealed,  are  to  be  torn 
>pen  again  !     In  the  day  time  your  path  through 
he   woods   will  be  ambushed;    the  darkness  of 
nidnight  will  glitter  with  the  blaze  of  your  dvvel- 
ings !     Are  you  a  Father  1     The  blood  of  your 
ons  shall  fatten  your  corq  fields.  Are  you  a  mother  ? 
he  war  whoop  shall  waken  the  sleep  of  the  cradle  I" 


108  GENERAL   JACKSON. 

Jackson,  'tis  true,  retaliated  severely ;  but  his  ven- 
geance fell  on  the  warriors  alone ;  no  woman  or 
child  was  touched  ;  and  had  he  ordered  otherwise, 
no  American  militia  man  could  have  been  found 
to  execute  his  commands 

\Vhen  General  Packenham  led  the  flower  of  the 
British  Army  ngainst  New-Orleans,  as  to  a  certain 
conquest ;  a  place  without  walls,  troops,  or  can- 
non, Jackson   was   sent  there.     He  found  a  few 
militia,  hastily  collected  ;  more  were  expected.    In 
the   scattered  state  of  population,  some  had   to 
come  above  a  thousand  miles.   These  were  mostly 
volunteers,  without  skill  or  tactics,  unable  to  forii 
or  to  march   by  rule ;  but  marksmen,  whose  aim 
was  almost  a   fatal  certainty.     In  this  situation, 
which  called  for  the  most  prompt  decision,  ii 
when  it  .was  more  than  suspected,  that  there  wer< 
persons  in  the  city  deeply  in  the  Bristish  interest 
Jackson  did  the  only  thing  which  could  have  save( 
the  place;  he  seized  the  power  of  the  bench,  am 
placed  the  town  under  military  law.    At  this  mo 
ment  the  advance  of  the  British  army  was  land! 
ing,  accompanied    by   custom-house   and  policJ 
officers,  already  arranged  to  organize  a  government 
of  the  place,  in  the  good  old  way  to  which  they  liaJ 
been  accustomed  in  their  warfare  with  other  enel 
mies. 

Without  giving  them  time  to  pitch  their  tents! 
Jackson  attacked  them  at  night  with  the  few  troopl 
he  had.  Our  officers  were  surprised  by  such  a  rel 
ceptioDj  at  a  place  where  they  had  expected  n<| 


GENERAL   JACKSON.  109 

resistance,  and  they  halted  till  the  rest  of  our 
troops  joined  them  ;  by  which  time  numbers  of 
the  militia  had  arrived.  The  cotton  bags  were 
taken  from  the  warehouses,  and  placed  round  the 
town  as  a  rampart.  How  this  would  have  been 
ridiculed  by  a  Cohorn  or  a  Vauban  !  and  proba- 
bly it  was  equally  ridiculed  by  our  officers,  accus- 
tomed to  the  entrenchments  on  the  European  con- 
tinent. They  led  on  their  troops  with  the  valour 
of  British  officers,  under  a  heavy  cannonade,  and 
with  clouds  of  rockets. 

Who  could  believe  that  the  result  should  be, 
the  defeat  of  our  troops,  with  the  loss  of  nearly 
three  thousand  men  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners; 
and  that  the  raw  militia,  behind  the  ramparts  of 
cotton  bags,  should  have  only  thirteen  men  killed 
and  wounded  !  Yet  so  it  appears  to  have  been. 
Our  troops  retreated  to  the  swamps,  by  which 
New  Orleans  is  surrounded,  where  they  had  ano- 
ther enemy  to  encounter,  the  diseases  attendant  on 
such  a  situation.  When  they  were  gone,  Jackson 
restored  to  the  judges  their  suspended  power  (ce- 
dunt  arma  tog<e\  and  was  called  before  them  and 
fined  for  suspending  it.  Before  he  could  leave  the 
court  house,  the  grateful  citizens  had  paid  the  fine 
for  their  deliverer.  He,  has  been  again  lately 
called  into  activity.  The  Indians  on  the  Florida 
frontier  had  begun  their  massacres.  Jackson 
inarched  against  them ;  they  fled  into  the  Spanish 
province  ;  he  followed  them  there  ;  he  found  them 
protected ;  he  did  not  hesitate,  but  attacked  and 
K 


110  BRITAIN    AND   AMERICA. 

captured  the  Spanish  forts,  and  sent  the  governor 
and  garrison  off  in  transports,  which  he  hired  to 
receive  them.  At  the  same  time  he  told  the  go- 
vernor that  when  the  king  of  Spain  should  send 
a  sufficient  force  to  quell  the  Indians,  and  keep 
them  in  subjection,  the  province  should  be  restored 
to  him. 

Fortunately  our  situation  is  far  removed  from 
Indian,  or  any  other  warfare.  I  have  been  led 
into  a  long  disgression  in  showing  that  a  peaceful 
citizen  may  at  the  same  time  be  a  good  soldier.  It 
has  been  observed  by  Talleyrand,  that  there  was  a 
natural  connexion  between  England  and  America, 
which  must  operate  in  favour  of  the  former,  and 
against  France.  This  I  believe  to  be  strictly  the 
case  j  and  wars  between  Great  Britain  and  Ame- 
rica can  only  arise,  from  an  astonishing  ignorance 
in  the  British  ministry  of  the  feelings  and  habits 
of  this  country.  The  more  I  see  of  America,  the 
more  I  am  convinced,  that  instead  of  an  absurd  jea- 
lousy of  the  growing  power  of  this  country,  we 
ought  rather  to  promote  it.  It  has  been  very  cor- 
rectly observed,  by  one  of  our  statesmen,  "  that 
not  an  axe  falls  in  an  American  forest  which  does 
not  put  in  motion  some  shuttle,  hammer,  or  wheel, 
in  England."  This  is  truly  the  case.  The  amount 
of  British  manufactures  consumed  even  in  this 
place,  so  lately  established,  is  wonderful.  In  the 
village  of  Montrose  are  already  six  or  eight  shop- 
keepers. One  of  these  lately  sent  off  nine  wag- 
gons to  bring  in  goods  from  one  of  the  maritime 


BRITISH    MANUFACTURES.  Ill 

cities :  and  these  goods  are  principally  of  British 
manufacture,  and  to  be  consumed  by  back-woods- 
men !  It  is  usual  for  the  store-keepers  to  supply 
themselves  twice  a  year,  spring  and  autumn ; 
therefore,  it  is  probable  that  this  storekeeper  sells 
eighteen  loads  of  goods  in  a  year.  Multiply  eighteen 
by  six,  and  you  have  one  hundred  and  eight  loads 
of  goods  sold  in  the  village  of  Montrose  alone ; 
besides  shops  in  other  parts  of  the  country.  In- 
stead of  prohibiting  the  emigration  of  farmers  and 
mechanics  to  this  country,  an  enlightened  ministry 
would  urge  it.  A  man  who  for  want  of  employ- 
ment with  you,  is  a  burthen  to  the  parish,  here  pur- 
chases a  lot  of  new  lands ;  his  labour  supplies  his 
family  with  food  and  raiment,  and  the  latter  is 
principally  British  manufacture.  As  his  children 
increase,  his  wealth  increases,  and  his  demand  on  the 
shops,  or,  as  they  are  here  called,  stores,  increases 
with  it.  These  stores  are  supplied  from  Great Bri- 
taain  with  the  articles  he  consumes.  The  result  is 
obvious  ;  the  man  who  is  a  weight  on  his  fellow  sub- 
jects at  home,  when  abroad,  becomes  one  of  those 
who  enhance  the  prosperity  of  his  native  country, 
by  the  consumption  of  its  manufactures.  These 
things  are  too  plain  to  be  mistaken;  aad  a  British 
minister  must  shut  both  his  eyes  and  ears,  who 
does  not  perceive  that  the  increase  of  population 
here,  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  interest 
of  the  mother  country.  The  concourse  of  idle 
and  expensive  paupers  in  England,  if  sent  to  this 
country,  would  become  a  fountain  of  wealth, 


BRITAIN    AND    AMERICA. 

pouring  its  fertilizing  stream  on  yon  from  a  lavish 
urn.  It  is  mortifying  to  know,  that  these  sources 
of  prosperity  should  have  been  prevented  from 
flowing  upon  our  country  by  the  sneering  letters 
of  Canning,  or  the  unbending  pride  of  Castle- 
reagh,  and  a  host  of  others  of  the  same  cha- 
racter. 

When  the  French  decrees  denationalized  the 
vessels  of  America,  for  suffering  the  search  of  a 
British  cruiser,  what  a  fortunate  time  it  would 
have  been  for  our  country,  had  our  minister  been 
sufficiently  wise  to  have  seen  that  his  true  policy 
should  have  led  him  to  protect  and  guard  the 
American  vessel ;  to  do  every  act  of  kindness,  and 
to  afford  every  protection  in  his  power,  while  our 
enemy  was  absurdly  provoking  the  hostility  of  the 
nation,  whose  agriculture  was  at  the  very  moment 
affording  him  the  most  important  aid.  What 
would  have  been  the  result  of  such  conduct?  Un- 
doubtedly a  war  between  France  and  America ;  and 
a  league  between  the  latter  and  Great  Britain ; 
between  the  parent  and  the  child,  as  it  ought  to 
have  been.  In  monarchical  governments,  if  an  in. 
jury  is  done  by  one  to  another,  a  calculation  may 
be  made  coolly  and  deliberately,  of  the  sum  neces- 
sary to  quiet  all  animosity.  This  is  not  the  case 
in  a  government  of  the  people.  Here  their  voice 
is  heard  ;  it  is  all  powerful :  and  if  such  a  case  had 
happened,  as  1  have  supposed,  the  people  would 
have  compelled  the  government  to  declare  war 
against  France.  The  flow  of  the  heart  of  these 


FREEDOM   OF   ELECTION.  113 

people  is  naturally  towards  their  English  relations. 
An  Englishman,  if  he  behaves  himself,  has  a  thou- 
sand advantages,  which  no  other  countryman  pos 
sesses ;  and  if  he  is  conscious  of  proper  feeling 
towards  the  country  of  his  adoption,  he  may  at 
once  consider  himself  at  home  among  its  citizens  ; 
by  whom  he  will  be  received  with  every  attention 
which  cordiality  and  kindness  can  bestow. 

In  Pennsylvania  the  freedom  of  election  is  ex- 
tended to  all  citizens  who  have  paid  the  trifling 
county  tax.  In  some  other  states  the  regulation  is 
different.  It  is  not  necessary  to  enter  into  the  ques- 
tion of  the  expediency,  or  inexpediency,  of  univer- 
sal suffrage;  nor  how  far  it  would  be  useful  to 
have  property  represented  in  a  political  body ;  it 
is  sufficient  to  know,  that  it  is  protected  here  by 
fair  and  equal  laws.  There  are  no  rotton  bo- 
roughs in  the  United  States  ;  and  the  bribery  and 
corruption  common  at  English  elections  are  here 
unknown.  It  must  be  confessed,  however,  that  a 
system  is  suffered  to  prevail  which  the  good  sense  of 
the  citizens  should  long  since  have  banished ;  and 
which  tends  to  preserve  and  perpetuate  power  in 
the  hands  of  a  few  leaders  of  a  dominant  party; 
and  who,  instead  of  being  actuated  by  "that  first 
paternal  virtue,  public  zeal,"  are  perhaps  held  toge- 
ther-by  the  thirst  of  wealth,  or  the  pride  of  office.  It 
is  common  for  half  a  dozen  men  who  possess  a  lit- 
tle influence,  to  assemble  in  a  county,  and  nomi- 
nate certain  persons  to  represent  it  in  the  state  le- 
gislature, and  in  the  congress  of  the  United  State*; 
K  2 


114  ELECTIONS. 

th«  nommation  of  these  self-created  leaders  fe 
usually  followed  by  the  voters  at  the  election.  The 
persons  named  are  elected.  The  members  of  the 
state  assembly,  before  they  return  to  their  homes, 
meet  in  caucus,  (as  a  private  political  meeting  is 
here  termed,)  and  name  some  one  as  a  candidate  for 
the  chair  of  government.  An  agreement  is  entered 
into,  previous  to  a  vote  being  taken,  that  he  who 
shall  have  the  majority  shall  be  supported  by  all 
present ;  and  it  would  be  considered  as  the  great- 
est proof  of  political  apostacy  to  act  contrary  to 
the  opinion  of  the  majority  of  this  meeting.  The 
same  thing  is  done  by  the  members  of  the  con- 
gress, in  the  selection  of  a  person  for  the  prece- 
dency; a  measure  calculated  to  give  undue  influ- 
ence to  persons,  who  may  ill  deserve  the  public 
confidence.  This  is  almost  equivalent  to  giving 
the  president  or  governor  the  power  of  appointing 
his  successor,  in  consequence  of  the  influence 
which,  during  the  sessions  of  the  legislature,  he4 
may  obtain  over  those  who  take  it  upon  themselves 
to  select,  or  nominate  to  .the  public,  the  candi- 
dates for  those  offices  ;  and  who,  from  the  ramifi- 
cations of  political  influence,  have  it  in  their  power 
to  render  their  candidate  successful.  In  this  way, 
the  power  of  party  becomes,  in  fact,  the  power  of 
the  leaders  of  it ;  and  may  be  very  dangerous  to 
the  freedom  of  election,  and  destructive  of  equal 
representation.  I  have  seen  so  much  evil  from  the 
borough-rnongering  system  of  England,  that  I 
shrink  with  dread  from  any  thing  which  may  be 


ELECTIONS.  115 

supposed  to  endanger  the  fair  and  full  expression 
of  the  public  will,  as  must  be  the  case  when  the 
right  of  nomination  is  assumed  by  a  few  political 
leaders,  instead  of  being  most  carefully  preserved 
by  the  whole  of  the  people.  In  the  present  in- 
stance, the  danger  may  be  more  imaginary  than 
real,  at  least  while  property  is  so  generally  pos- 
sessed, and  so  equally  divided  in  these  states  ;  but 
in  this  country,  the  only  asylum  of  freedom  in  the 
world,  whatever  may  be  supposed  to  endanger  her 
safety,  should  be  guarded  against  or  averted,  with 
the  most  jealous  care ;  and  we  should  remember 
how  often  the  liberty  of  the  people  has  been  de- 
stroyed by  those  who  assumed  the  character  of  its 
most  devoted  supporters.  In  this  country  there 
appears  to  be  no  danger  from  any  open  attack.  It 
is  not  the  impulse  of  the  battering-ram,  but  the 
insidious  approach  of  the  miner  that  is  to  be 
f,  feared. 

Politicians  have  apprehended  much  danger  to 
f  the  permanency  of  the  general  government  of  this 
t  country,  from  the  jealousy  and  power  of  the  indi- 
t^idual  states  composing  the  confederacy ;  but  this 
I  is  lessened  every  day,  by  the  rapidity  with  which 
[  new  states  are  formed,  and  added  to  the  Union, 
£  and  which  have  the  effect  of  rendering  the  whole 
more  and  more  powerful  in  proportion  to  the  num- 
ber of  its  fractional  parts.    Among  any  consider- 
able number  of  these  it  is  not  easy  to  form  a  coali- 
tion of  interests  in  opposition  to  the  rest.     The 
danger  of  disunion  is  passed.    The  eastern  states, 


REMARKS    ON 

which  formerly  exhibited  some  instances  of  local 
jealousies,  in  opposition  to  the  general  government, 
appear  now  to  be  willing  to  place  their  pride  in  the 
combined  strength  of  the  whole,  and  to  view  the 
increase  of  states,  which  I  think  amount  to  twenty- 
one,  as  an  augmentation  of  their  individual  secu- 
rity. In  proportion  to  the  number  of  parts  of 
which  the  Union  is  composed,  will  the  danger  of 
opposition  from  any  of  them  be  lessened  ;  and  it 
is  probable,  that  this  march  to  power  will  be 
bounded  only  by  the  Pacific  Ocean,  on  the  shores 
of  which  a  colony  is  already  planted,  and  a  line 
of  connexion,  by  a  chain  of  strong  military  posts 
across  the  continent,  about  to  be  established. 
Should  not  Great  Britain  look  with  exultation  at 
the  gigantic  growth  of  her  offspring — at  the  extent 
to  which  her  language  and  her  code  of  laws  are  car- 
ried by  Anglo-Americans! 


LETTER   XIV. 
Remarks  on  Birkbeck's  Letters. 

SINCE  writing  my  last,  I  have  seen  a  late  work 
by  Mr.  Birkbeck,  entitled  "  Letters  from  Illinois:1 
I  have  read  it  with  attention,  and  find  much  in  it  to 
confirm  the  satisfaction  with  which  I  contemplate 
our  settlement. 


BIRKBECK'S  LETTERS.  117 

There  appears  to  be  a  great  inequality  of  fer- 
tility in  the  western  states,  a  natural  consequence 
of  what  I  have  mentioned,  the  washing  of  the.  rains 
robbing  the  hills  of  their  soil,  and  depositing  it  on 
the  river  flats.  He  says,  "  We  found  nothing  at- 
"  tractive  on  the  eastern  side  of  Indiana  ;  the  situ- 
"  ations  to  the  south,  on  the  Ohio  river,  bounding 
"  that  state,  were  so  well  culled,  as  to  be  in  the 
"  predicament  above  described ;  offering  no  room 
"  for  us,  without  great  sacrifices  of  money  and  so- 
"  ciety.  The  western  side  of  Indiana,  on  the  banks 
"  of  the  Wa*bash,  is  liable  to  the  same  and  other 
"  objections.  The  northern  part  of  Indiana  is 
"  still  in  possession  of  the  Indians."  And  in  the 
state  of  Ohio,  he  observes,  "  We  must  have  paid 
"  from  twenty  to  fifty  dollars  per  acre  for  land, 
41  which  is  technically  called,  improved;  but  is  in 
•'  fact  deteriorated ;  or  have  purchased  at  an  ad- 
'*  vance  of  1,000,  or  1,500  per  cent,  unimproved 
«'  land  from  speculators  ;  and  in  either  case,  should 
"  have  laboured  under  the  inconvenience  of  set- 
"  tling  detached  from  society  of  our  own  choice, 
and  without  the  advantage  of  choice  as  to  soil 
or  situation.  We  saw  many  eligible  scites  and 
fine  tracks  of  country ;  but  these  were  precisely 
the  tracks  which  had  secured  the  attachment  of 
their  possessors." 

These  circumstances,  therefore,  which  appear  to 
be  of  sufficient  weight,  induced  Mr.  B.  to  seek  a 
settlement  still  further  west,  to  which  the  white  in- 
habitants had  not  yet  been  attracted.  I  have  no 


118  REMARKS   ON 

doubt  that  they  will  soon  be  round  him  there ;  but 
a  frontier  position  had  certainly  be  better  left  en- 
tirely to  the  Americans,  and  avoided  by  English- 
men. I  do  not  wonder  at  some  of  his  countrymen, 
in  his  own  words,  "  wanting  faith,  thinking  they 
"  should  never  reach  an  abode  so  far  west."  Ac- 
cording to  the  distance  given  it  appears  to  be 

From  Philadelphia  to  Pittsburgh   •  •  320  miles. 

From  the  Pittsburgh,  down  the  Ohio, 
to  Shawanoe  town •  •  •  1,200 

From  Shawanoe  town  to  Birkbeck's 
Settlement   50 

1,570  miles. 

The  extensive  settlement  of  Englishmen,  in  his 
neighbourhood,  which  Mr.  B.  at  first  contemplated 
appears  to  be  given  up ;  as  he  has  not  been  able  to 
procure  the  land  according  to  his  original  wishes.1 
He  observes,  "  I  am  therefore  going  on  steadily* 
"  with  my  own  settlement,  without  reference  to 
"  that  plan."  That  large  plan  thought  of  by  Mr. 
B.  alone,  so  far  oft'  as  Illinois,  will,  I  trust,  be 
carried  into  effect  by  the  British  Emigrant  Society 
here;  in  a  country  much  more  congenial  to  a 
British  constitution. 

These  letters  seem  to  have  been  principally  writ- 
ten at  Princeton,  in  the  state  of  Indiana ;  where,  it  j 
is  probable,  Mr.  B.  was  obliged  to  reside  until  he 
could  have  some  accommodations  made  at  his  set-  ! 
tlement  in  Illinois  ;  from  which  it  appears,  by  the  ; 
map,  to  be  about  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  distant.  ! 


BIRKBECK'S  LETTERS.          119 

If  the  state  of  society,  and  the  inconvenience  of 
travelling,  are  to  be  taken  from  Mr.  B.'s  account, 
they  are,  to  say  the  least,  quite  as  bad  as  what  may 
be  gathered  from  other  travellers.  The  following 
are  his  vords : 

^  "  In  the  early  state  of  society,  where  the  couii- 
"  try  is  savage,  and  many  of  the  people  just  emer- 
"  ging  from  that  condition,  much  intrepidity  of 
"  mind,  and  hardihood  of  body,  are  indispensable 
"  requisites  in  the  administration  of  justice.  Brass 
"  for  the  face  wont  suffice ;  there  must  be  steel 
"  from  head  to  foot.  Your  military,  or  fox  hunting 
"  experience,  has,  I  dare  say,  furnished  adventures 
"  similar  to  those  which  are  constantly  occurring 
"  here  to  the  gentlemen  of  the  long  robe,  on  their 
"  progress  from  court  to  court.  The  judge  and 
"  the  bar  are  now  working  their  way  to  the  next 
"  county  seat,  through  trackless  woods,  over  snow 
"  and  ice,  with  the  thermometer  about  Zero.  In 
"  last  November  circuit,  the  judge  swam  his  horse, 
"  I  think,  seven  times  in  one  day,  and  how  often  in 
"  the  whole  circuit,  is  not  on  record.  What  would 
"  our  English  lawyers  say  to  seven  such  ablutions 
"  in  one  November  day  ?  and  then  to  dry  their 
"  clothes  on  their  back  by  turning  round  and 
"  round  before  a  blazing  fire,  preparatory  to  a 
"  night'*  lodging  on  a  cabin  floor,  wrapped  in  their 
"  blankets ;  which,  by  the  bye,  are  the  only  robes 
"  used  by  the  profession  here." 

Why,  I  believe  the  English  lawyers  would  not 
be  surprised,  in  such  a  situation,  to  be  told  (p.  69) 


120  REMARKS   ON 

of  an  enraged  barrister,  with  a  hand-whip  or  cow- 
hide, cutting  to  ribbons  the  jacket  of  the  foreman 
of  the  grand  jury :  or  of  a  judge  shooting  a  no. 
torious  offender,  while  on  horseback  in  the  street, 
with  a  pistol  ball  through  the  body. 

I  have  alluded  to  the  turbulent  character,  given 
by  travellers,  of  some  of  the  western  settlers. 
This  character  however  cannot  be  considered  a  ge- 
neral one;  and  it  would  be  very  unjust  to  give  it 
that  application;  doubtless  there  must  be  many  es- 
timable characters  there,  and  we.  should  be  aware 
that  the  deformity  of  moral  evil,  like  the  depth  of 
shade  in  a  picture,  is  calculated  to  make  a  first  and 
powerful  impression.  This  impression  is  not  les- 
sened by  the  letters  in  question,  and  when  we  are 
told,  that  "  tbe  decision  of  character  which  pre- 
"  vails  among  the  new  settlers,  renders  their  soci- 
"  ety  very  interesting,  and  there  is  a  spirit  of  fear- 
"  less  enterprise,  that  raises  even  the  v  icious  above 
"  contempt;  not  a  family,  scarce  an  individual, 
"  whose  adventures  would  not  highly  amuse  and 
"  astonish  the  groups  assembled  round  the  fire  sid* 
"  of  our  old  country." 

We  see  the  anxiety  and  dangers  which  are  ne- 
cessarily connected  with  advanced  settlements,  ex 
posed  to  savage  inroads,  and  which  it  may  be  mud 
pleasanter  to  hear  recounted,    by   the  fire-side, 
than  to  participate  in.     And  it  is  unfortunate,  that 
even  when  the  situation  of  affairs  change,  the  cha- 
racter acquired  by  Indian  warfare  and  intercourse, 
is  too  apt  to  continue.    The  state  of  those  persona 


BIRKBECK'S  LETTERS.          121 

who  live  in  such  a  condition,  much  resembles  that 
of  the  ancient  borderers  between  England  and 
Scotland ;  and  many  an  American  frontier  settler, 
not  only  resembles  Watt  Tinlinn  in  appearance, 

Who  was  of  stature  passing  tall, 
But  sparely  formed,  and  lean  withal: 

But  after  an  Indian  inroad,  might  exclaim  with 
him, 

"  Th«y  crossed  at  the  curfew  hour, 
And  burned  my  little  lonely  tower; 
The  fiend  receive  their  souls  therefore! 
It  had  not  bten  burned  this  year  and  more. 
Barn  yard  and  dwelling,  blazing  bright,^ 
Served  to  light  me  in  my  flight; 
But  I  was  chased  the  live  long  night."        ) 

Walter  Scott  would  experience  no  want  of  "  Stark 
"  moss  troopers"  there. 

Mr.  B.  says, "  There  is  nothing  I  anticipate  with 
"  so  much  satisfaction  and  security,  as  the  rapid 
"  development  of  society  in  our  new  country.  Its 
"  elements  are  rude,  certainly,  and  heterogeneous. 
"  The  first  settlers,  unprotected  and  unassisted, 
"  amid  dangers  and  difficulties,  have  been  accus- 
"  tomed,  from  early  youth,  to  rely  on  their  own 
"  powers ;  and  they  surrender  with  reluctance,  and 
49  only  by  halves,  their  right  of  defence  against 
*'  every  aggression,  even  to  the  laws  which  tr  ey 
*'  themselves  have  constituted.  They  have  been 
"  anxiously  studious  of  mildness  in  the  forming  of 

Iw 

fli 


122  REMARKS   ON 

"  these  laws ;  and  when  in  practice  they  seem  in- 
"  efficient,  they  too  frequently  proceed,  with  In- 
"  dian  perseverance,  to  acts  of  vengeance — incon- 
"  sistent  with  the  duty  or  forbearance  essential  to 
"  social  man.  Hence,  deeds  of  savage  and  even 
"  ferocious  violence  are  too  common  to  be  viewed 
"  with  the  abhorrence  due  to  them.  This  dispo- 
"  sition  is  evinced  continually,  and  acted  on  with- 
"  out  any  feeling  of  private  or  personal  animosity. 
"  If  a  man,  whom  the  public  voice  has  proclaimed 
"  a  thief,  or  a  swindler,  escape  from  justice,  for 
"  want  of  legal  proof  of  his  guilt,  though  the  law 
"  and  a  jury  of  his  fellow  citizens  hare  acquitted 
<c  him,  ten  to  one  but  he  is  met  with  before  he  can 
"  quit  the  neighbourhood,  and,  tied  up  to  a  sapling, 
"  receives  a  scourging  that  marks  him  for  the  rest 
"  of  his  life." 

Such  a  state  of  society  needs  no  comment.  An 
Englishman,  accustomed  to  the  administration  of 
the  laws,  will  suspect  that  Mr.  B.  has  a  mind  to 
deter,  instead  of  invite,  his  countrymen  to  adven- 
ture "  so  far  west,"  to  a  country,  where,  when 
a  prejudice  is  raised  against  one,  it  is  not  uncom- 
mon for  a  riotous  assemblage  to  become  judges 
and  executioners,  and  scourge,  so  as  to  mark  for 
the  rest  of  his  life,  him  who  has  been  declared  in- 
nocent by  a  jury. 

I  regret  to  see  in  Mr.  B.'s  letters  an  aversion  to 
religion,  which  is  calculated  not  only  to  injure  his 
reputation,  but  most  of  those  who  may  follow  him. 
He  mentions,  v.ith  the  tone  of  commendation,  that 


BIRKBECK'S  LETTERS.          123 

where  he  is,  "  children  are  not  baptized,  or  [not] 
"  subjected  to  any  superstitious  rite  ;  parents  name 
"  them,  and  that  is  all ;  and  the  last  act  of  the 
"  drama  is  as  simple  as  the  first.  There  is  no  con- 
"  secrated  burial  or  funeral  service.  The  body  is 
"  enclosed  in  the  plainest  coffin,  the  family  of 'the 
"  deceased  convey  the  corpse  to  the  woods ;  some 
"  of  the  party  are  provided  with  axes  and  some 
"  with  spades ;  a  grave  is  formed  and  the  body 
"  placed  quietly  in  it;  then  trees  are  felled  over 
"  the  grave  to  protect  it  from  the  wild  beasts. 
"  These  simple  monuments  of  mortality  are  not  un- 
"  frequent  in  the  ivoods." 

Surely  this  is  not  a  desirable  situation  to  live  in. 
If  Mr.  B.  has  no  belief  in  religion,  still  his  observa- 
tions must  have  convinced  him  how  important  its 
observances  are  to  the  tranquillity  and  peace  which 
we  must  suppose  him  desirous  of  enjoying  in  this 
world.  In  vain  will  he  fly  to  the  solitude  of  his 
prairie,  if  that  solitude  may  be  interrupted  by 
those  who  have  shaken  off  all  the  restraints  that 
withhold  mankind  from  violence  and  rapine.  He 
should  consider  the  injury  which  his  example  may 
do  to  society,  when  he  declares  of  the  church,  that 
he  does  "  not  believe  in  its  doctrines;"  and  sneer- 
ingly  asks  his  correspondent,  "  when  we  shall  have 
"  settled  ourselves  in  our  cabins,  and  fixed  our- 
"  selves  to  our  minds  as  to  this  world,  what  sort 
"  of  garb  think  you  we  shall  assume  as  candidates 
'•  for  the  next?"  With  Mr.  B.'s  religious  or  irre- 
ligious opinions  I  have  nothing  to  do ;  this  govern- 


124  REMARKS   ON 

ment  wisely  suffers  every  man  to  choose  his  own 
path,  and  lie  may  walk  in  any  direction  he  pleases, 
however  eccentric,  provided  he  does  not  jostle 
too  rudely  against  the  decorums  of  society:  but  I 
fear  that  the  rapid  development  of  society,  which 
Mr.  B.  says  he  anticipates  with  so  much  "  satis- 
"  faction  and  security,"  may  not  be  of  the  most 
desirable  kind,  if  it  is  matured  under  such  auspi- 
ces. Mr.  B.  should  be  aware  of  the  slight  assu- 
rance which  the  safety  of  himself  and  his  family 
depends  on,  in  the  exposed  situation  in  which 
they  are  placed ;  and  it  is  worse  than  rashness  in 
him  to  be  careless  of  the  salutary  restraints  of 
law  and  religion. 

The  alleged  insalubrity  of  the  climate  appears 
to  derive  confirmation  from  the  frequent  mention 
which  is  made  in  these  letters  of  the  necessity  of 
a  settler  bringing  medicines  with  him;  This  appears 
to  be  considered  as  the  staff  of  life  in  Illinois. 
"  The  English  of  both  sexes,"  Mr.  B.  says, "  and 
'  strangers  in  general  are  liable  to  bilious  attacks 
on  their  first  arrival.     These  complaints  seem, 
however,  simple  and  not  difficult  to  manage,  if 
taken  in  time."  In  another  part  he  observes, "  that 
clothing,  bedding,  household  linen,  and  simple 
medicine  of  the  best  quality,  and  sundry  small  ar- 
ticles of  cutlery  and  light  tools,  are  the  best 
things  for  a  settler  to  bring.out  with  him."  And 
again :  "  a  few  simple  medicines  of  the  best  quality, 
"  are  indispensable ;  such  as  calomel,  bark  in  pow- 
*'  der,  castor  oil,  calcined  magnesia  and  laudanum. 


BTRKBECK'S   LETTERS.  125 

*'  They  may  be  of  the  greatest  importance  on  the 
"  voyage  and  journey,  as  well  as  after  your  arri- 
"  val." 

From  these  passages,  which  indicate  a  necessity 
for  every  settler  to  bring  his  own  apothecary  shop 
with  him,  and  account  sufficiently  for  the  simple 
monuments,  so  frequent  in  the  woods  of  Illinois, 
you  will  think,  that  in  following  the  instructions  of 
my  friends,  to  "  let  no  consideration  tempt  me  to  se- 
et  lect  an  unhealthy  situation"  I  §kould  have  little 
prospect  of  fixing  them  comfortably  in  Mr.  B/s 
neighbourhood;  and  that,  waving  all  other  objec- 
jections,  there  was  in  this  enough  to  deter  me  from 
going  so  far  west. 

I  had  been  told  of  the  parching  heat  of  the  wes- 
tern prairies ;    but  had  not  heard  much  of  their 
winters.     Mr.  Schultz,    indeed,  says,  in  a  letter 
from  St.  Genevieve,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
Illinois,  and  dated  in  February :  "  From  the  expe- 
"  rience  I  have  had,  I  assure  you,  that  the  cold 
"  for  six  weeks  past,  has  been  every  way  as  severe  as 
"  in  the  city  of  New- York."  Mr.  B.  says  "  extreme 
"  cold  does  not  seem  to  belong  to  us ;  but  we  have 
*'  some  very  severe  paroxysms  of  it,  when  the  wind 
"  sets  from  the  north  west,  the  thermometer  falling 
"  rapidly  to  7°  a  8°  below  Zero ;"  and  in  another 
part  he  says,  "  we  have  had  an  unusual  severe 
"  winter.    The  mercury  has  once  been  12°  below 
w  Zero,  and  several  times  approaching  that  ex- 
*'  treme."    This  is  a  degree  of  cold  that  might 
not  have  been  expected  in  that  latitude ;  and  is  to 
L  2 


REMARKS   ON 

be  accounted  for  only  by  the  flat,  unsheltered 
situation  of  the  country,  which  receives  the 
piercing  north  west  wind,  in  its  full  force,  and 
with  all  its  collected  cold,  from  the  icy  mountains, 
at  the  heads  of  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri. 
These  extremes  of  heat  and  cold, 

"  Extremes  by  change  more  fierce,'* 

to  which  the  inhabitants  are  exposed,  must,  un- 
doubtedly, be  one  cause  of  the  unhealthiness  of 
the  country. 

Ill  the  8th  letter  it  is  observed,  «'  there  are  no 
<f  very  good  mill  seats  on  the  streams  in  our  neigh- 
"  bourhood,  but  our  prairie  affords  an  eligible  site 
"  for  a  wind-mill."  A  want  of  mill  seats  on  the 
streams,  must  be  the  casein  all  flat  countries,  and 
it  is  extremely  inconvenient  to  the  settler,  not  only 
as  it  occasions  much  difficulty  and  delay,  in  the 
grinding  of  grain ;  but  as,  without  falls  of  water 
for  saw  mills,  he  is  unable  to  procure  boards  for 
his  buildings,  unless  at  prices  which  he  can  ill 
afford  to  pay. 

The  difference  of  expense  in  going  from  Phila- 
delphia or.  New- York  to  Illinois,  or  in  coming 
here,  from  either  of  those  cities,  is  an  object 
worthy  of  consideration.  One  of  our  party,  Mr. 
Lee,  has  just  arrived  from  Philadelphia,  with  his 
family,  consisting  of  seven  persons,  and  thirty 
hundred  weight  of  goods.  The  carriage  of  his 
goods  cost  him  three  dollars  per  hundred,  delivered 


BIRKBECK'S  LETTERS.  127 

here.  His  family  came  in  the  same  wajrgon,  and 
their  expenses  on  the  road  were  twenty-four  dol- 
lars, in  all  one  hundred  and  fourteen  dollars. 
The  cost  of  carriage  to  Pittsburg,  is  eight  dollars 
per  hundred,  which  would  be  on  the  above  load 
240  dollars,  and  supposing  the  expenses  on  the 
road  double,  or  forty  eight  dollars,  then  the  sum 
expended  in  getting  to  Pittsburg,  would  be  288 
dollars.  From  Pittsburg  it  is  by  water,  1200 
miles  to  Shawanoe  town ;  and  by  land  fifty  miles 
further  to  the  prairie  at  Mr.  B's."  In  going  down 
the  river,  it  would  be  necessary  to  purchase  an 
ark,  or  boat,  and  to  hire  hands  who  are  acquainted 
with  the  channels  of  the  river,  who  must  be  paid 
not  only  for  going  down  with  the  family,  but  for 
returning.  Supposing  all  these  expenses  to  amount 
to  two  thirds  of  the  expense  of  the  journey  to 
Pittsburg,  or  192  dollars,  this  makes  altogether 
480  dollars,  besides  the  loss  of  time  in  going  to  Illi- 
nois ;  or  three  hundred  and  sixty-six  dollars  more 
than  will  be  expended  in  coming  here.  This  366 
dollars  will  procure,  under  the  Society's  contract, 
122  acres  of  land.  So  that,  climate  and  markets 
out  of  the  question,  a  British  emigrant  of  the 
above  description,  will  come  here,  and  pay  for 
one  hundred  and  twenty-two  acres  of  land,  for 
what  it  will  cost  him  to  go  to  the  Illinois,  at  the 
most  favourable  season  of  the  year.  But  in  the 
winter,  when  the  Ohio  river  is  frozen,  to  get  a 
family  and  furniture  from  Pittsburg  or  Illinois,  is, 
I  conceive,  beyond  the  power  of  any  British  emi- 
grant 


128  REMARKS,   &C. 

The  cost  of  a  voyage  from  New-Orleans  up  the 
Mississippi  and  Ohio,  to  Illinois,  is  three  times  that 
of  a  voyage  from  England  to  the  United  States. 
The  following  are  the  rates  charged  from  New 
Orleans  to  Illinois: — For  a  grown  person,  twenty- 
eight  pounds,  two  shillings,  and  sixpence:  children 
fiom  two  to  ten  years  old,  half  price;  those  under 
two,  one  fourth;  servants,  half  price;  way  passen- 
gers, sixpence  a  mile. 

In  travelling  by  land  to  Pittsburg,  and  then  des- 
cending the  Ohio,  to  reach  the  Western  Country, 
the  emigrant  must  make  his  calculations  for  the 
expenses  of  a  delay  which  may  take  place  at 
Pittsburg,  by  want  of  water  in  the  river.  The 

family  of  a  Mr.  G ,  who  lately  removed  thither 

from  Philadelphia,  was  detained  one  month  at 
Pittsburg,  and  another  month  was  spent  on  the 
water  before  they  arrived  at  Shawanoe  town. 

To  the  traveller  who  is  detained  at  Pittsburgh, 
it  is  no  slight  alleviation  to  reflect,  that  he  is  at 
the  very  abode  of  hospitality  ;  but  to  most  of  the 
emigrants,  this  "  availeth  little,"  in  comparison 
with  the  consequences  of  an  expensive  journey. 

I  have  marked  many  places  for  your  observation 
in  Mr.  B/s  work,  which  I  send  you.  I  shall  also 
transmit  an  extract  from  the  foliage  Record,  a 
very  ably  conducted  newspaper,  published  at 
West  Chester,  near  Philadelphia,  by  Mr.  Miner, 
lately  a  member  of  the  Legislature  of  this  Com- 
monwealth. 


129 


CONCLUSION. 

IN  the  preceding  statement,  I  have  endeavoured 
to  guard  my  expressions,  in  such  a  waj,  that  they 
should  not  raise  extravagant  expectations  of  the 
country  in  which  we  have  placed  our  settlement. 
I  believe  it  will  answer  your  wishes ;  for  I  think 
our  opinions  on  this  subject  will  agree,  as  they  do 
in  most  others.  But  1  wish  every  one  who  reads 
the  description  which  I  have  given,  to  consider  it 
with  the  same  deliberation  with  which  it  has  been 
written.  I  believe  I  see,  very  clearly,  the  difficul- 
ties which  every  person  has  to  encounter,  who 
settles  in  a  new  country ;  for  they  are  before  my 
eyes,  wherever  I  turn :  but  I  see  that  where  industry 
is  applied,  first  competency  and  then  abundance 
follows.  An  Englishman,  by  coming  here,  may 
shake  from  his  heavily  laden  shoulders,  the  immense 
burthen  of  his  taxes ;  but  he  must  not  expect  to 
lay  aside  his  industrious  habits,  and  to  indulge  in 
indolence,  unless  he  brings  a  fortune  with  him. 
This  I  wish  to  impress  upon  the  mind  of  every 
one.  You  who  are  happily  blessed  with  a  com- 
petency, will  find  a  pleasure  in  looking  over  the 
improvements  of  your  farm,  or  amusing  yourself 
in  rural  sports.  It  will  be  better  for  many  English- 
men, to  purchase  an  improvement,  than  to  begin 
in  the  woods,  as  the  phrase  is,  for  a  commencing 
improvement.  This  will  enable  him  immediately 


L30  CONCLUSION. 

to  keep  his  cattle,  and  he  may  add  such  quantity 
of  land  as  his  circumstances  shall  render  proper, 
and  extend  his  clearing  and  improvements  accord- 
ing to  his  industry  or  his  purse.  All  his  clearings, 
if  he  is  careful,  will  doubly  repay  the  toil  and  ex- 
pense of  making.  Still,  however,  at  first,  he  must 
not  expect  to  see  the  smooth  surface  of  his  native 
island,  where  the  cheapness  and  abundance  of 
labour  enables  the  farmer  to  till  his  fields  with 
more  care  than  is  used  here  in  a  garden.  Here 
are  the  materials  of  beauty,  as  well  as  happiness; 
but  they  must  be  fashioned  and  shaped  into  order 
and  symmetry. — He  who  has  not  exertion  to  do 
this,  had  better  stop  and  slumber  at  home.  The 
idle  should  not  come  here,  but  to  the  industrious 
man,  every  thing  necessary  for  his  comfort  is 
offered.  With  pure  air,  and  excellent  water,  he 
may  count  upon  health.  With  a  fertile  soil,  and 
good  markets,  and  the  blessings  of  Providence, 
which  usually  follow  the  use  of  proper  means,  he 
may  calculate  on  prosperity ;  while,  to  crown  and 
preserve  all,  he  is  blessed  with 

"  Kind,  equal  rule,  the  government  of  laws, 
And  all  protecting  FREEDOM,  which  alone 
Sustains  the  Dame  and  dignity  of  man." 

It  just  occurs  to  me  to  add  that  no  female  can 
be  arrested  or  imprisoned  for  debt,  in  this  com- 
monwealth. 

In  order  that  you  may  be  able  to  judge  for  your- 
self of  the  excellence  of  the  government  of  which 


CONCLUSION.  131 

we  arc  invited  to  become  citizens,  I  shall  transmit 
along  with  these  sheets,  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  and  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania, 
which  is  among  the  most  powerful  of  the  Union  in 
wealth  and  resources.  I  shall  add  also  an  abstract 
of  the  laws  respecting  naturalization,  and  the  act 
to  enable  aliens  to  hold  lands  in  this  common- 
wealth. 

I  remain,  my  dear  friend,  with  many  wishes  for 
the  happy  arrival  of  yourself  and  the  rest  of  our 
party,  &c. 

C.  B.  JOHNSON. 


132  REMARKS   ON 


From  the  Village  Recorder  of  18th  Nov.  1818. 


NOTICE  OF  MR.  BIRKBECK'S   LETTERS. 

WE  have  before  noticed  Mr.  Birkbeck's  letters 
from  Illinois.  His  calculations,  showing  the  rapidity 
•with  which  independence  may  be  obtained,  and 
even  wealth  accumulated,  are  well  contrived  to 
lead  the  sanguine  in  flocks  to  his  neighbourhood.—- 
"Whether  all  who  go  will  realize  the  happiness  and 
prosperity  which  their  fancies  have  pictured,  our 
deliberate  judgment  leads  us  much  to  question.— 
That  the  prairies  of  which  he  speaks  are  rich  in 
soil,  and  will  be  prolific  of  produce,  we  entertain  no 
doubt ;  but  fine  land  and  good  crops  are  not  the 
only  considerations  which  a  prudent  man  will  take 
into  the  account,  when  be  is  about  to  remove  his 
family,  and  to  settle  in  a  new  situation.  Health  is 
better  than  riches  ;  and  the  finest  prairie  in  Illinois 
would  poorly  compensate  for  the  sacrifice  of  half 
his  family,  and  the  reduction  of  the  rest  to  debility 
and  disease. 

New  countries  are  generally  healthy.  When 
they  are  not  so,  when  diseases  make  their  appear- 
ance with  the  first  settlers,  the  climate  must  be 
radically  bad,  and  the  situation  extremely  insalu- 
brious. These  observations  have  arisen  from  an 
impression  left  upon  my  mind  by  Mr.  Birkbeck's 
book.  In  letter  fourth,  h»  speaks  of 


MR.  BIRKBECK'S  LETTERS.       133 

right  enough,  deaths  take  place  every  where — but 
when  he  adds,  "  These  simple  monuments  of  mor- 
"  tality,  [graves  over  which  trees  have  been  felled] 
"  are  not'wifrequent  in  the  woods,"  it  strikes  me  as 
quite  unusual,  and  indicates  a  sicklincss  of  climate 
justly  alarming.  To  this  when  it  13  added  that  he 
enjoins  it  on  his  friends  again  and  again,  as  a  thing 
of  much  importance,  pressing  from  its  necessity, 
constantly  upon  his  mind,  that  they  should  bring 
with  them  calomel  and  bark — Physic,  physic,  phy- 
sjcl — I  must  confess  that  I  am  quite  willing  to  give 
up  all  claim  to  his  prairies,  aud  to  be  content  with 
£lain  Pennsylvania  hills  and  valleys,  uplands  and 
bottoms,  that  will  yield  fifty  bushels  of  corn,  or  twenty 
of  wheat,  to  the  acre. 

Another  thing  in  Mr.  Birkbeck's  letters  impressed 
me  with  no  very  favourable  idea  of  his  situation.— 
He  speaks  of  erecting  a  wind-mill  on  his  prairie ! 
What !  arc  there  no  mill  seats  in  Illinois  ?  Is  the 
land  so  low  ;  are  the  waters  so  sluggish,  that  fall 
enough  cannot  be  found  to  turn  a  mill  ?  Such  we 
have  reason  to  think  is  the  fact.  Is  it  then  to  be 
wondered  at,  if  fevers  and  ague— bilious  fever- 
yellow  fever,  and  fifty  other  diseases,  should  bo 
rife  where  the  lands  are  low  and  the  waters  stag- 
nant. 

For  my  own  part— perhaps  it  is  the  effect  of  pre- 
judice,— but  I  can't  help  it — I  prefer  the  running 
stream— the  pure,  sweet,  lively  water  that  gushes 
from  the  hill  side,  and  the  occasional  cataract,  all 
foaming  and  bounding,  like  a  flock  of  white  sheep 
from  the  mountain,  imparting  cheerfulness  and  health. 
I  wish  I  had  room  to  extract  from  a  late  work  enti- 
tled "  Rambles  in  Italy,"  a  description  of  a  spot, 
the  uiost  beautiful  to  the  eye,  but  fatal  to  the  occu- 
II 


134  REMARKS   ON 

pant.  The  summer  and  autumn  it  was  abandonedj 
for  the  miasma  that  rose  from  its  putrid  waters? 
blighted  human  life  as  the  frost  withers  the  leavea 
of  the  forest.  Such,  I  apprehend,  will  be  the  future^ 
description  of  many  a  fair  promising  prairie  in  tho. 
west. 

Well,  there  is  one  consolation :  There  are  new 
lands  enough  nearer  home— excellent  in  soil,  having* 
pure  water,  and  advantageously  situated.  How  apt 
we  are  to  look  at  a  great  distance  for  happiness^ 
overlooking  the  advantages  near  us !  Nearly  ono 
half  of  Pennsylvania  is  yet  uncultivated.  From  jjj 
point,  beginning  a  few  miles  north  of  Easton,  run  ;t\ 
line  longitudinally  so  as  to  intersect  the  western! 
line  of  the  state,  passing  a  few  miles  north  ofl 
Pittsburg,  we  divide  Pennsylvania  into  two  equal! 
parts.  South  of  this  line  83  members  of  Assembly 
reside;  north  of  it  15.  Suppose  the  state  to  contaiiij 
900,000  inhabitants— 750,000  live  in  the  south  half,; 
and  only  150,000  in  the  North.  Yet  the  north  part 
will  admit  a  population  greater  than  that  which  now 
exists  in  the  south.  There  is  ample  room,  therefore,! 
for  600,000  inhabitants,  or  100,000  families  to  settle^ 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  lands  can  be  obtained  on  terms 
quite  as  reasonable  as  in  the  west. 

Some   parts    of  this  territory  are    settling  wifh 
great  rapidity.     Of  Susquehanna  county  I  can  speak  \ 
from  personal  knowledge,  having  been  one  among 
the  first  who  made  a  settlement  near  where    the^ 
present  seat  of  justice,  (Montrose,)  is  established. 
It  was,  18  years  ago,  a  wilderness  ;    there  was  no 
road  within  eight  miles  of  the  spot  which  is  now  a 
handsome  town.    It  has  not,  it  is  true,  like  some  of 
the  Alabama    towns,  increased    200  houses  in  a 
season ;  such  places,  of  unnatural  growth,  will  go ! 


MR.  BIRKBECK'S  LETTERS.       135 

I    line  Jonah's  gourd,  as  suddenly  as  they  came  ;  I  have 
!    no  confidence  in  them.     But  the  growth  of  Montrose 
and  the  settlement  of  the  country  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, have  been  natural  and  healthful.    This  county, 

•  lying  within  two  days  journey  of  the  Hudson,  and 
|  three  of  Philadelphia,  and  being  nearly  in  a  direc- 
tion between  those  cities  and  the  fine  and  flourishing 

5  Genessce  country,  rendered  it   an  object  deserving 

attention.      Robert  H.  Rose,   Esq.  took   an  active 

1  part    in  its  settlement.     Enterprising,    liberal,  and 

intelligent,   he  has,  with  the  aid  of  several   other 

gentlemen,  produced  an   astonishing  revolution  in 

those  forests.      Various  turnpikes    extend  through 

the  county.    At  the  seat  of  justice  are  erected  very 

:  handsome    public  buildings;    a  Eank  of   superior 

[  credit,  which  has  been  some  time  in  operation,  is 

I  there    established,    and  at  the  last    election,  they 

polled  upwards  of  200  votes  at  Montrose. 

The  soil  is  of  an  excellent  quality,  favourable  for 
.  all  sorts  of  grain:  and  particularly  productive  of 
[.  grass,  promising  to  be  one  of  the  finest  grazing 
!.•  countries  in  the  Union.  The  timber  is  chiefly  Su- 
|  gar  Maple,  Beech,  Ash,  Hemlock  and  Birch.  In 
r  its  hills  and  valleys  the  land  lies  much  like  that  of 
5  Chester  county;  the  water  abundant,  lively,  and 
clear.  In  this  fine  county,  lands  may  be  bought 
£  on  the  turnpikes  for  five  dollars  per  acre ;  or  at  a  less 
I  price  some  distance  from  them.  Mill  seats  are 
1  numerous  and  excellent;  and,  above  all,  in  point  of 
t  health  it  cannot  be  surpassed.  With  the  advantages 
1  of  good  roads,  schools,  and  society,  and  land  at 
a  moderate  price  so  near  ;  what  thinking  man 

•  would   remove,   with  a  pack  load  of  calomel  and 
jalap  at  his  back,  to  the  fever  prairies  of  Illinois  ? 

I  have  spoken  particularly  of  Susquehanna  county; 


136  REMARKS,  &C. 

but  the  description,  as  it  respects  soil,  products, 
timber,  water,  &c.  will  apply  to  all  the  counties 
on  the  north  line  of  the  state.  But  I  have  no 
more  room  at  present.  This  subject  must  be  re- 
sumed. The  settlement  of  this  great  extent  of 
territory  is  a  subject  of  the  highest  importance  to 
the  state,  and  ought  to  engage  its  most  serious 
attention. 


APPENDIX. 


THE  CONSTITUTION 

OF   THE 

UNITED    STATES    OF   AMERICA. 


WE,  the  People  of  the  United  States,  in  order  to 
form  a  more  perfect  Union,  establish  Justice,  in- 
sure domestic  Tranquillity,  provide  for  the  common 
Defence,  promote  the  general  Welfare,  and  secure 
the  Blessings  of  Liberty  to  ourselves  and  our  Pos- 
terity, Do  ordain  and  establish  this  Constitution  for 
the  United  States  of  America. 

ARTICLE  I. 

SECTION  I.  All  legislative  powers,  herein  granted, 
shall  be  vested  in  a  CONGRESS  of  the  United 
States,  which  shall  consist  of  a  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives. 

SECT.  II.  1.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall 
be  composed  of  members  chosen  every  second 
year,  by  the  people  of  the  several  states ;  and  the 
electors  in  each  state  shall  have  the  qualifications 
requisite  for  electors  of  the  most  numerous  branch 
of  the  state  legislature. 

M2 


138  CONSTITUTION   OF 

2.  No  person  shall  be  a  Representative  who  shall 
not  have   attained  to  the  age  of  twenty-five  years, 
and  been  seven  years  a  citizen  of  the  United  States, 
and  who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  inhabitant  of 
that  state  in  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

3.  Representatives  and  direct  taxes  shall  be  ap- 
portioned among  the  several  states    which   may  be 
included  within  this  Union,  according  to  their  re- 
spective numbers,  which   shall  be    determined  by 
adding  to  the  whole  number  of  free  persons,  includ- 
ing those  bound  to  service  for  a  term  of  years,  and 
excluding  Indians  not  taxed,  three-fifths  of  all  other 
persons.    The   actual  enumeration   shall   be  made 
within  three  years  after  the  first  meeting  of  the 
Congress   of  the  United  States,   and  within   every 
subsequent  term  of  ten  years,  in  such  manner  as 
they   shall  by  law  direct.    The  number  of  Repre- 
sentatives shall  not    exceed  one  for  every  thirty 
thousand,  but  each  state  shall  have  at  least  one  re- 
presentative ;  and  until  such  enumeration  shall  be 
made,    the  state  of  New  Hampshire  shall  be  en- 
titled to  choose  three,  Massachusetts  eight,  Rhode 
Island  and  Providence  Plantations  one,  Connecticut 
five,  New  York  six,  New  Jersey  four,  Pennsylvania 
eight,  Delaware  one,   Maryland  six,  Virginia  ten, 
North-Carolina  five,  South-Carolina  five,  and  Georgia 
three. 

4.  When  vacancies  happen  in  the  representation 
from  any  state,  the  executive  authority  thereof  shall 
issue  writs  of  election,  to  fill  such  vacancies. 

5.  The   House  of   Representatives  shall  choose 
their  Speaker,  and  other  officers,   and  shall  have  the 
sole  power  of  impeachment. 

SECT.  Ill,  l.  The  Senate  of  the  United  States 
shall  be  composed  of  two  Senators  from  each  state, 


THE  UNITED   STATES.  139 

chosen  by  the  legislature  thereof  for  six  years  ;  and 
each  .Senator  shall  have  one  vote. 

2.  Immediately  after  they  shall  be  assembled,  in 
consequence  of  the  first  election,  they  shall  be  di- 
vided, as  equally  as  may  be,  into  three  classes — 
The  seats  of  the  Senators  of  the  first  class  shall  be 
•vacated  at  the  expiration  of  the  second  year ;  of  the 
second  class  at  the  expiration  of  the  fourth  year ; 
and  of  the  third  class  at  the  expiration  of  the  sixth 
}  ear ;  so  that  one  third  may  be  chosen  every  second 
37ear ;  and  if  vacancies  happen  b}r  resignation,  or 
otherwise,  during  the  recess  of  the  legislature  of  any 
state,  the  executive  thereof  may  make  temporary  ap- 
pointments, until  the  next  meeting  of  the  legislature, 
which  shall  then  fill  such  vacancies. 

3.  No  person  shall  be   a  Senator,  who  shall  not 
have  attained  to  the  age  of  thirty  years,  and  been 
nine  years  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  who 
Shall  not,   when  elected,  be   an  inhabitant  of  that 
state  for  \vhich  he  shall  be  chosen. 

4.  The  Vice-President  of  the  United  States  shall 
be  President  of  the  Senate,  but  shall  have  no  vote, 
unless  they  be  equally  divided. 

5.  The  Senate  shall  choose  their  other  officers,  and 
also  a  President  pro  (empore,  in  the  absence  of  the 
Vice-President,  or  when  he  shall  exercise  the  office 
of  President  of  the  United  States. 

6.  The  Senate  shall  have  the  sole  power  to  try  all 
impeachments.    When  sitting  for  that  purpose,  they 
shah1  be  on  oath  or  affirmation.     When  the  President 
of  the  United  states  is  tried,  the  Chief  Justice  shall 
preside.     And  no  person  shall  be  convicted,  with- 
out the  concurrence  of  two-thirds  of  the  members 
present 

r.  Judgment  in  cases  of  impeachment  shall  not 


140  CONSTITUTION  OF 

extend  further  than  to  removal  from  office,  an  J  dis-  j 
qualification  to  hold  and  enjoy  any  office  of  honour, 
trust,  or  profit,  under  the  United  States  ;  but  the  ; 
party  convicted  shall,  nevertheless,   be   liable  and  j 
subject  to  indictment,  trial,  judgment  and  punish- 
ment, according  to  law. 

SECT.  IV.  1.  The  times,  places,  and  manner  of ' 
holding  elections  for  Senators  and  Representatives, 
shall  be  prescribed  in  each  state  by  the  legislature 
thereof ;  but  the  Congress  may  at  any  time,  by  law, 
make  or  alter  such  regulations,  except  as  to  the 
places  of  choosing  Senators. 

2,  The  Congress  shall  assemble  at  least  once  in 
every  year,  and  such  meeting  shall  be  on  the  lirst 
Monday  in  December,  unless  they  shall,  by  law,  ap- 
point a  different  day. 

SECT.  V.  1.  Each  House  shall  be  the  judge  of  the 
elections,  returns  and  qualifications  of  its  own  mem- 
bers, and  a  majority  of  each  shall  constitute  a  quo- 
rum to  do  business  ;  but  a  smaller  number  may  ad- 
journ from  day  to  day,  and  may  be  authorised  to 
compel  the  attendance  of  absent  members,  in  such 
manner,  and  under  such  penalties,  as  each  House 
may  provide. 

2.  Each  House   may  determine  the  rules   of  its 
proceedings,  punish  its  members  for  disorderly  be- 
haviour, and,    with  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds, 
expel  a  member. 

3.  Each   House  shall  keep  a  journal  of  its  pro- 
ceedings,  and  from  time  to  time  publish  the  same, 
excepting  such  parts  as  may  in  their  judgment  re- 
quire secrecy  ;  and  the  yeas  and  nays  of  the  mem- 
bers of  either  House  on  any  question  shall,   at  the 
desire  of  one-fifth  of  those  present,  be   entered  on 
the  journal. 


THE    UNITED    STATES.  141 

I  4.  Neither  House,  during:  the  session  of  Congress, 
shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  other,  adjourn  for 
more  than  three  days,  nor  to  any  other  place,  than 
that  in  which  the  two  Houses  shall  be  sitting1. 

SECT.  VI.  1.  The  Senators  and  Representatives 
shall  receive  a  compensation  for  their  services,  to 
be  ascertained  by  law,  and  paid  out  of  the  treasury 
of  the  United  States.  They  shall  in  all  cases,  ex- 
cept treason,  felony,  and  breach  of  the  peace,  be 
privileged  from  arrest  during  their  attendance  at 
the  session  of  their  respective  Houses,  and  in  going 
to,  and  returning  form,  the  same;  and  for  any 
speech  or  debate  in  either  House,  they  shall  not  be 
questioned  in  any  other  place. 

2.  No  Senator  or  Representative  shall,  during 
the  time  for  which  he  was  elected,  be  appointed  to 
any  civil  office  under  the  authority  of  the  United 
Slates,  which  shall  have  been  created,  or  the  emo- 
luments whereof  shall  have  been  increased,  during 
such  time ;  and  no  person  holding  any  office  under 
the  United  States  shall  be  a  member  of  either  House, 
during  his  continuance  in  office. 

SECT.  VII.  1.  All  bills  for  raising  revenue  shall 
originate  in  the  House  of  Representatives ;  but  the 
-Senate 'may  propose  or  concur  with  amendments,  as 
on  other  bills. 

2.  Every  bill,  which  shall  have  passed  the  House 
of  Representatives  and  the  Senate,  shall,  before  it 
become  a  law,  be  presented  to  the  President  of  the 
United  States;  if  he  approve,  he  shall  sign  it;  but 
if  not,  he  shall  return  it,  with  his  objections,  to  that 
House  in  which  it  shall  have  originated,  who  shall 
enter  the  objections  at  large  on  their  journal,  and 
prooceed  to  re-consider  it.  If,  after  such  re-consi- 
deration, two-thirds  of  that  House  shall  ngreo  to 


142  CONSTITUTION    OF 

pass  the  bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  together  with  the  obJ 
jections,  to  the  other  House,  by  which  it  shall  liked 
wise  be  re-considered,  and,  if  approved  by  t\vo»i 
thirds  of  that  House,  it  shall  become  a  law.  But 
in  all  such  cases,  the  votes  of  both  Houses,  shall  be 
determined  by  yeas  and  nays,  and  the  names  of  the] 
persons  voting  for  and  against  the  bill  shall  be  en*j 
tered  on  the  journal  of  each  House,  respectively* 
If  any  bill  shall  not  be  returned  by  the  President 
within  ten  days  (Sundays  excepted)  after  it  shall 
have  been  presented  to  him,  the  same  shall  be  a 
law,  in  like  manner  as  if  he  had  signed  it,  unless 
the  Congress,  by  their  adjournment,  prevent  its  re- 
turn, in  which  case  it  shall  not  be  a  law. 

3.  Every  order,  resolution  or  vote,  to  which  the 
concurrence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Represerir 
tatives  may  bo  necessary  (except  on  a  question  of 
adjournment)  shall  be  presented  to  the  President  of 
the  United  States,  and,  before  the  same  shall  take 
effect,  shall  be  approved  by  him,  or,  being  disap- 
proved by  him,  shall  be  re-passed  by  two-thirds  of 
the  Senate  and  House  of  Representives,  according 
to  the  rules  and  limitations  prescribed  in  the  case 
of  a  bill. 

SECT.  VIII.  The  Congress  shall  have  power — 

1.  To  lay  and  collect  taxes,  duties,  imposts  and 
excises,  to  pay  the  debts,  and  provide  for  the  com- 
mon defence  and  general  welfare   of  the    United 
States;  but  all  duties,  imposts,  and  excises  shall  be 
uniform  throughout  the  United  States  ; 

2.  To  borrow  money  on  the  credit  of  the  United 
State* ; 

3'  To  regulate  commerce  with  foreign  nations, 
and.  among  the  several  states,  and  with  the  Indian 
tribes ; 


THE    UNITED    STATES.  143 

4.  To  establish  an  uniform  rule  of  naturalization 
ind  uniform  laws  on  the  subject  of  bankruptcies, 
throughout  the  United  States; 
i  5.  To  coin  money,  regulate  the  value  thereof,  and 
of  foreign  coin,  and  fix  the  standard  of  weights  and 
measures ; 

'    6.    To  provide  for  the  punishment  of  counter- 
feiting the  securities  and  current  coin  of  the  United 
States ; 
'    7.  To  establish  post-offices  and  post  roads  ; 

8.  To  promote  the  progress  of  science  and  useful 
arts,  by  securing  for  limited  times,  to  authors  and 
inventors,    the  exclusive  right  to  their  respective 
writings  and  discoveries ; 

9.  To  constitute  tribunals  inferior  to  the  supreme 
court ;  To  define  and  punish  piracies  and  felonies 
committed  on  the  high  seas,  and  offences  against 
the  law  of  nations ; 

10.  To  declare  war,  grant  letters  of  marque  and 
reprisal,  and  make  rules  concerning  captures  on  land 
and  water ; 

11.  To  raise  and  support  armies;  but  no  appro- 
priation of  money  to  that  use  shall  be  for  a  longer 
term  than  two  years ; 

12.  To  provide  and  maintain  a  navy; 

13.  To  make  rules  for  the  government  and  regu- 
lation of  the  land  and  naval  forces  ; 

14.  To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  militia  to  exe- 
cute the  laws  of  the  Union,  suppress  insurrections, 
and  repel  invasions ; 

13.  To  provide  for  organizing,  arming  and  disci- 
plining the  militia,  and  for  governing  such  part  of 
them  as  may  be  employed  in  the  service  of  the  United 
States,  reserving  to  the  states,  respectively,  the  ap- 
pointment of  the  officers,  and  the  authority  of  training 


144  CONSTITUTION   OP 

the  militia  according  to  the  discipline  prescribed  by 
Congress. 

16.  To  exercise  exclusive  legislation,  in  all  casea 
whatsoever,  over  such  district  (not  exceeding    tem 
miles    square)   as  may,    by    cession   of    particular 
siates,  and  the  acceptance  of  Congress,  become  the 
seat  of  the  governmeHt  of  the   United   States,  and 
to  exercise  like  authority  over  all  places,  purchased 
by  the  consent  of  the  legislature  of  the  state  in 
which  the  same  shall  be,  for  the  erection  of  forts, 
magazines,  arsenals,  dock-yards,  and  other  needful 
buildings ; — and 

17.  Te   mako  all  laws  which  shall  be  necessary 
and  proper,   for  carrying  into  execution  the  fore-* 
going  powers,  and  all  other  powers  vested  by  this 
constitution  in  the  government  of  the  United  States,] 
or  in  any  department  or  office  thereof. 

SECT.  IX.  1.  The  migration  or  importation  or 
such  persons,  as  any  of  the  states  now  existing  shall 
think  proper  to  admit,  shall  not  be  prohibited  bv  the 
Congress  prior  to  the  year  one  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred and  eight,  but  a  tax  or  duty  may  be  imposed! 
on  such  importation,  not  exceeding  ten  dollars  for* 
each  person. 

2.  The  privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus! 
hall  not  be  suspended,  unless  when  in  cases  of  re-) 
bellion,  or  invasion,  the  public  safety  may  require  itj 

3.  No  bill  of  attainder,  or  ex  post  facto  law,  shali 
be  passed. 

4.  No  capitation,  or  other  direct  tax,  shall  be  laid,' 
unless  in  proportion  to  the  census,  or  enumeration,! 
herein  before  directed  to  be  taken. 

5.  No  tax  or  duty  shall  be  laid  on  articles  exported! 
from  any  state.     No  preference  shall  be  given,  byf 
any  regulation  of  commerce  or  rctenue,  to  the  porti | 


THE    UNITED    STATES.  145 

of  one  state  over  those  of  another  ;  nor  shall  vessels 
bound  to  or  from  one  state  he  obliged  to  enter,  clear, 
or  pay  duties,  in  another. 

6.  .No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  treasury, 
but  in  consequence  of  appropriations  made  by  law  ; 
and  a  regular  statement  and  account  of  the  receipts 
and  expenditures  of  all  public  money  shall  be  pub- 
lished from  time  to  time. 

7.  No  title  of  nobility  shall  be   granted  by  the 
United  States ;  and    no  person,  holding  any  office  of 
profit  or  trust  under  them,  shall,  without  the  eon- 
stnt  of  the  Congress,  accept  of  any  present,  emo- 
lument, office,  or  title,  of  any  kind  whatever,  from 
any  king,  prince,  or  foreign  state. 

SECT.  X.  1.  No  state  shall  enter  into  any  treaty, 
alliance  or  confederation  ;  grant  letters  of  marque 
and  reprisal ;  coin  money ;  emit  bills  of  credit ; 
make  any  thing  but  gold  and  silver  coin  a  tender  in 
payment  of  debts  ;  pass  any  bill  of  attainder,  ex- 
post  facto  law,  or  law  impairing'  the  obligation  of 
contracts ;  or  grant  any  title  of  nobility. 

2.  No  state  shall,  without  the  consent  of  the  Con- 
gress, lay  any  imposts  or  duties  011  imports  or  ex- 
ports, except  what  may  be  absolutely  necessary  for 
executing  its  inspection  laws;  and  the  net  produce 
of  alt  duties  and  imposts,  laid  by  any  state  on  im- 
ports, or  exports,  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the  treasury 
of  the  United  States;  and  all  such  Jaws  shall  be  sub- 
ject to  the  revision  and  controul  of  the  Congress. 
No  state  shall,  without  the  consent  of  Congress, 
lay  any  duty  of  tonnage,  keep  troops  or  ships  of  war 
in  time,  of  peace,  enter  into  any  agreement  or  com- 
pact with  another  state,  or  with  a  foreign  power, 
or  engage  in  war,  unless  actually  invadwl,  or  in  such 
imminent  danger  as  will  not  admit  of  delay. 
N 


146  CONSTITUTION    OP 

ARTICLE  II. 

SECT.  I.  1.  The  executive  power  shall  be  vested 
in  a  President  of  the  United  Slates  of  America.  He 
shall  hold  his  office  during  the  term  of  four  years, 
and,  together  with  the  Vice-President,  chosen  for 
the  same  term,  be  elected  as  follows: 

2.  Each  state  shall  appoint,  in  such  manner  as  the 
legislature  thereof  may  direct,  a  number  of  electors, 
equal  to  the  whole  number  of  Senators  and  Repre- 
sentatives to  which  the  state  may  be  entitled  in  the 
Congress;  but  no   Senator    or    Representative,  or 
person  holding  an  office  of  trust  or  profit  under  the 
United  States,  shall  be  appointed  an  elector. 

3.  The    Congress    may    determine    the   time  of 
choosing  the  electors,  and  the  day  on  which  they 
shall  give  their  votes,  which  day  shall  be  the  same 
throughout  the  United  States. 

4.  No  person,  except  a  natural  born  citizen,  or  a 
citizen  of  the  United  States  at  the  time  of  the  adop- 
tion  of  this   Constitution,   shall  be  eligible  to  the 
office  of  President ;  neither  shall  any  person   be  eli- 
gible to  that  office,  who  shall  not  have  attained  to  the 
«ge  of  thirty-five  years,  and  been  fourteen  year's  a 
resident  within  the  United  Slates. 

5.  In  case  of  the  removal  of  the  President  from 
office,  or  of  his  death,  resignation,  or  inability  to  dis- 
charge the  powers  and  duties  of  the  said  office,  the 
same  shall  devolve  on  the  Vicc-President,  and  the 
Congress  may,  by  law,  provide  for  the  case  of  re- 
moval, death,  resignation,  or  inability,  both  of  the 
President  and  Vice-President,  declaring  what  officer 
shall  then  act  as  President,  and  such  officer  shall 
act  accordingly,  until  the  disability  be  removed,  or 
a  President  shall  be  elected. 


THE  UNITED  STATES.  147 

6.  The  President  shall,  at  stated  times,  receive  for 
his  services  a  compensation,  which  shall  neither  be 
increased    nor    diminished    during  the    period    for 
which  he  shall  have  been  elected;  and  Ue  shall  not 
receive,   within  that  period,  any  other  emolument 
from  the  United  States,  or  any  of  them. 

7.  Before  he  enter  on  the  execution  of  his  office, 
Le  shall  take  the  following  oath  or  affirmation  : 

"  /  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  f  willfaith- 
"  fully  execute  the  office  of  President  of  the  United 
"  States,  and  will,  to  the  best  of  my  ability,  preserve 
"  protect,  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
"  States." 

SECT.  II.  1.  The  President  shall  be  commander 
in  chief  of  the  army  and  nary  of  the  United  States, 
and  of  the  militia  of  the  several  states,  when  called 
into  the  actual  service  of  the  United  States ;  he 
may  require  the  opinion,  in  writing,  of  the  principal 
officer  in  each  of  the  executive  departments,  upon 
any  subject  relating  to  the  duties  of  their  respective 
offices ;  and  he  shall  have  power  to  grant  reprieves 
and  pardons  for  offences  against  the  United  States, 
except  in  cases  of  impeachment. 

2.  He  shall  have  power,  by  and  with  the  advice 
and  consent  of  the  Senate,  to  make  treaties,  provi- 
ded two  thirds  of  the  Senators  present  concur ;  and 
he  shall  nominate,  and,  by  and  with  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  Senate,  shall  appoint  ambassadors, 
other  public  ministers  and  consuls,  judges  of  the  su- 
preme court,  and  all  other  officers  of  the  United 
States,  whose  appointments  are  not  herein  other- 
wise provided  for,  and  which  shall  be.  established  by 
law.  But  the  Congress  may,  by  law,  vest  the  ap- 
pointment of  such  inferior  officers  as  they  think  pro* 


148  CONSTITUTION  OF 

per  in  the  President  alone,  in  the  courts  of  law,  or  in 
the  h«ads  of  departments. 

3.  The  President  shall  have  power  to  fill  up  all 
Vttcancies  that  may  happen  during  the  recess  of  the 
Senate,  by  granting  commissions,  which  shall  expire 
at  the  end  of  their  next  session. 

SECT.  III.  He  shall,  from  time  to  time,  give  to  the 
Congress  information  of  the  state  of  the  Union,  and 
recommend  to  their  consideration  such  measures,  as 
Ate  shall  judge  necessary  and  expedient  j  he  may,  on 
Extraordinary  occasions,  convene  both  Houses,  or 
either  of  them,  and,  in  case  of  disagreement  between 
them,  with  respect  to  the  time  of  adjournment,  he 
may  adjourn  them  to  such  time  as  he  shall  think 
proper  ;  he  shall  receive  ambassadors  and  other 
public  ministers  ;  he  shall  bike  care  that  the  laws  be 
faithfully  executed,  and  shall  commission  all  the 
officers  of  the  United  States. 

SECT.  IV.  The  President,  Vice-President,  and  all 
civil  officers  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  re- 
moved from  office  on  impeachment  for,  and  convic- 
tion of,  treason,  bribery,  or  other  high  crimes  and 
misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE  III. 

SECT.  I.  The  judicial  power  of  the  United  States, 
shall  be  vested  in  one  Supreme  Court,  and  in  such 
inferior  courts  as  the  Congress  may,  from  time  to 
time,  ordain  and  establish.  The  judges,  both  of  the 
supreme  and  inferior  courts,  shall  hold  their  offices 
during  good  behaviour,  and  shall,  at  stated  times,  re- 
ceive for  their  services  a  compensation,  which  shall 
not  be  diminished  during  their  continuance  in  office. 


THE   UNITED   STATES.  149 

SECT.  II.  1.  The  judicial  power  shall  extend  to  all 
eases  in  law  and  equity,  arising  under  this  Consti- 
tution, the  laws  of  the  United  States,  and  treaties 
made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under  their  autho- 
rity ;  to  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  or  other 
public  ministers  and  consuls;  to  all  cases  of  admi- 
ralty and  maritime  jurisdiction  ;  to  controversies  to 
which  the  United  States  shall  be  a  party;  to  con- 
troversies between  two  or  more  states,  between  a 
state  and  citizens  of  another  state,  between  citizens 
of  different  states,  between  citizens  of  the  same 
state  claiming  lands  under  grants  of  different  states, 
and  between  a  state,  or  the  citizens  thereof,  and 
foreign  states,  citizens,  or  subjects. 

2.  In  all  cases  affecting  ambassadors,  other  public 
ministers  and  consuls,  and  those  in  which  a  state 
shall  be  party,  the  supreme  court  shall  have  original 
jurisdiction.     In  all  the  other  cases  before  mentioned 
the  supreme  court  shall  have  appellate  jurisdiction 
both    as   to  law  and  fact,    with    such  exception, 
and  under  such  regulations,   as  the   Congress  shall 
make. 

3.  The  trial  of  all  crimes,  except  in  oases  of  im- 
peachment, shall  be  by  jury ;    and  such  trial  shall  be 
held  in  the  state  where  the  said  crimes  shall  have 
been  committed ;  but  when  not  committed  within 
any  state,  the  trial  shall  be  at  such  place  or  places  as 
the  Congress  may  by  law  have  directed. 

SECT.  III.  1.  Treason  against  the  United  States 
shall  consist  only  in  levying  war  against  them,  or  in 
adhering  to  their  enemies,  giving  them  aid  and  com- 
fort. No  person  shall  be  convicted  of  treason,  unless 
on  the  testimony  of  two  witnesses  to  the  same  overt 
act,  or  on  confession  in  open  court. 
N2 


150  CONSTITUTION    OF 

2.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  decfcire  th» 
punishment  of  treason,  but  no  attainder  of  treason 
shall  work  corruption  of  blood,  or  forfeiture,  except 
during  the  life  of  the  person  attainted. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

SECT.  I.  Full  faith  and  credit  shall  be  given  in 
each  state  to  the  public  acts,  records,  and  judicial 
proceedings  of  every  other  state.  And  the  Congress, 
may,  by  general  laws,  prescribe  the  manner  in  vrhich 
such  acts,  records  and  proceedings  shall  be  proved, 
and  the  effects  thereof. 

SECT.  II.  1.  The  citizens  of  each  state  shall  be 
entitled  to  all  privileges  and  immunities  of  citizens 
in  the  several  states. 

2.  A  person  charged  in   any  state  with  treason, 
feJony,  or  other  crime,  who  shall   flee  from  justice, 
and  be  found  in  another  state,  shall  on  demand  of 
the  executive  authority  of  the  state  from  which  he 
fled,  be  delivered  up,  to  be  removed  to  the  state, 
having  jurisdiction  of  the  crime. 

3.  No  person  held  to  service   or  labour  in  one 
stale,  under  the  laws  thereof,  escaping  into  another, 
shall,  in  consequence  of  any  law  or  regulation  there- 
in, be  discharged  from  such   service  or  labour,  but 
shall  be  delivered  up,  on  claim  of  the  party  to  whom 
such  service  or  labour  may  be  due. 

SECT.  III.  1.  New  states  may  be  admitted  by  the 
Congress  into  this  Union;  but  no  new  state  shall  be 
formed  or  erected  within  the  jurisdiction  of  any 
other  state,  nor  any  state  be  formed  by  the  junction 
of  two  or  more  states,  or  parts  of  states,  without 
the  consent  of  the  legislatures  of  the  states  con- 
cerned as  Mell  as  of  the  Congress. 


THE    UNITED   STATES.  151 

'>.  The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  dispose  of 
and  make  all  needful  rules  and  regulations  respect- 
ing the  territory,  or  other  property,  belonging:  to  Ihe 
United  States ;  and  nothing  hi  this  Constitution 
shall  be  so  construed,  as  to  prejudice  any  claims  of 
the  United  States,  or  of  any  particular  state. 

SECT.  IV.  The  United  States  shall  guarantee  to 
every  state  in  this  Union  a  republican  form  of  go- 
vernment, and  shall  protect  each  of  them  against 
invasion ;  and,  on  application  of  the  legislature,  or 
of  the  executive  (when  the  legislature  cannot  be 
convened)  against  domestic  violence. 

ARTICLE  V. 

The  Congress,  whenever  two-thirds  of  both  houses 
shall  deem  it  necessary,  shall  propose  amendments 
to  this  Constitution,  or,  on  the  application  of  the 
legislatures  of  two-thirds  of  the  several  states,  shall 
call  a  Convention  for  proposing  amendments,  which, 
in  either  case,  shall  be  valid,  to  all  intents  and  pur- 
poses, as  part  of  this  Constitution,  when  ratified  by 
the  legislatures  of  three-fourths  of  the  several  states, 
or  by  Conventions  in  three-fourths  thereof,  as  the 
one  or  the  other  mode  of  ratification  may  be  propo- 
sed by  the  Congress:  provided  that  no  amendment, 
which  muy  be  made  prior  to  the  year  one  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  eight,  shall  in  any  manner  affect 
Ihe  first  and  fourth  clauses  in  the  ninth  section  of 
the  first  Article  ;  and  that  no  state  without  its  con- 
sent, shall  be  deprived  of  its  equal  suffrage  in  the 
Senate. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

1.  All  debts  contracted,  and  engagements  entered 
into,  before  the  adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall 


152  CONSTITUTION    OF 

be  as  valid  against  the  United  States  under  this  Con- 
stitution, as  under  the  Confederation. 

2.  This  Constitution,  and  the  laws  of  the  United 
States  which  shall  he  made  in  pursuance  thereof, 
and  all  treaties  made,  or  which  shall  he  made,  un- 
der the  authority  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  the 
supreme  law  of  the  land  ;  and  the  judges  in  every 
state  shall  b«  bound  thereby,  any  th  np  in  the  Con- 
stitution or  laws   of  any  state  to  the  contrary  not. 
withstanding. 

3.  The  Senators  and  Representatives  before  men- 
tioned, and  the  members  of  the  several  state  legis- 
latures, and  all  executive  and  judicial  officers,  both 
of  the  United  States  and  of  the  several  states,  shall 
be  bound,  by  oath  or  affirmation,  to  support  this  Con- 
stitution ;  but  no  religious  test  shall  ever  be  required 
as  a  qualification  to  any  office,  or  public  trust,  under 
the  United  States. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

The  ratification  of  the  Conventions  of  nine  states 
shall  be  sufficient  for  the  establishment  of  this  Con- 
stitution, between  the  states  so  ratifying  the  same. 


AMENDMENTS  TO  THE  CONSTITUTION. 

Article  the  First. 

Congress  shall  make  no  law  respecting  an  estab- 
lishment of  religion,  or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise 
thereof;  or  abridging  the  freedom  of  speech,  or  of 
the  press ;  or  the  right  of  the  people  peaceably  to 
assemble,  and  to  petition  the  government  for  a  re- 
dress of  grievances. 


THE  UNITED  STATES.  153 

(Article  the  Second. 
A  well  regulated  militia  being:  necessary  to  the 
security  of  a  free  state,   the  right  of  the  people  to 
keep  and  bear  arms  shall  not  t*e  infringed. 

Article  the  Third. 

No  soldier  shall  in  time  of  peace  be  quartered  in 
any  house,  without  the  consent  of  the  owner,  nor  in 
time  of  war,  but  in  a  manner  to  be  prescribed  by 
law. 

Article  the  Fourth. 

The  right  of  the  people  to  be  secure  in  their  per- 
sons, houses,  papers  and  effects,  against  unreason- 
'able  searches  and  seizures,  shall  not  be  violated  ;  and 
too  warrants  shall  issue,  but  upon  probable  cause  sup- 
J»orted  b}T  oath  .or  affirmatiour  and  particularly  de- 
scribing the  place  to  be  searched,  and  the  persons 
or  things  to  be  seized. 

Article  the  Fifth. 

No  person  shall  be  held  to  answer  for  a  capital,  or 
(otherwise  infamous  crime,  unless  on  a  presentment 
or  indictment  of  a  grand  jury,  except  in  cases  arising 
in  the  land  or  naval  forces,  or  in  the  militia,  when 
in  actual  service  in  time  of  war  or  public  danger : 
nor  shall  any  person  be  subject  for  the  same  offence, 
to  be  twice  put  in  jeopardy  of  life  or  limb  ;  nor 
shall  be  compelled,  in  any  criminal  case,  to  be  a 
witness  against  himself;  nor  be  deprived  of  life,  li- 
berty, or  propert}',  without  due  process  of  law  ;  nor 
shall  private  property  be  taken  for  public  use,  with- 
out just  compensation. 


154  CONSTITUTION,^ 

Article  the  Sixth. 

In  all  criminal  prosecutions,  the  accused  shall  en- 
joy the  right  to  a  speedy  and  public  trial,  by  an  im- 
partial jury  of  the  state  and  district  wherein  the 
crime  shall  have  been  committed,  which  district 
shall  have  been  previously  ascertained  by  law  ;  and 
to  be  informed  of  the  nature  and  cause  of  the  accu- 
sation to  be  confronted  with  the  witnesses  against 
him  ;  to  have  compulsory  process  for  obtaining  wit- 
nesses in  his  favour,  and  to  have  the  assistance  of 
counsel  for  his  defence. 

Article  the  Seventh. 

In  suits  at  common  law,  where  the  value  in  con- 
troversy shall  exceed  twenty  dollars,  the  right  of 
trial  by  jury  shall  be  preserved ;  and  no  fact  tried 
by  a  jury  shall  be  otherwise  re-examined  in  any 
court  of  the  United  States,  than  according  to  the^ 
rules  of  the  common  law. 

Article  the  Eighth. 

Excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required,  nor  exces-; 
sive  fines  imposed,  nor  cruel  and  unusual  punish* 
incuts  inflicted. 

Article  the  Ninth. 

The  enumeration  in  the  Constitution   of  certain 
rights,  shall  not  be  construed  to  deny  or  disparage  , 
others  retained  by  the  people. 

Article  the  Tenth. 

The  powers  not  delegated  to  the  United  States  by 
the  Constitution,  nor  prohibited  by  it  to  the  states, 
are  reserved  to  the  states  respectively,  or  to  the 
people. 


•         THE    UNITED    STATES.  155 

Article  the  Eleventh. 

The  Judicial  Power  of  the  United  States  shall  not 
be  construed  to  extend  to  any  suit  in  law  or  equity, 
commenced  or  prosecuted  against  one  of  the  United 
States  by  citizens  of  another  state,  or  by  citizens  or 
subjects  of  any  foreign  state. 

Article  the  Twelfth. 

1.  The  electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective 
states,  [and  vote  by  ballot  for  President  and  Vice- 
president,  one  of  whom,  at  least,  shall  not  be  an  in- 
habitant of  the  same  state  with  themselves ;  they 
shall  name  in  their  ballots  the  person  voted  for  as 
President,  and  in  distinct  ballots  the  person  voted  for 
as  Vice-President ;  and  they  shall  make  distinct 
lists  of  all  persons  voted  for  as  President,  and  of  all 
persons  voted  for  as  Vice-President,  and  of  the 
number  of  votes  for  each,  which  lists  they  shall 
sign  and  certify,  and  transmit,  sealed,  to  the  seat  of 
the  government  of  the  United  States,  directed  to 
the  President  of  the  Senate ;  the  President  of  the 
Senate  shall,  in  the  presence  of  the  Senate  and 
House  of  Representatives,  open  all  the  certificates, 
and  the  votes  shall  then  be  counted ;  the  person 
having  the  greatest  number  of  votes  for  President, 
if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  number 
of  electors  appointed  ;  and  if  no  person  have  such 
majority,  then  from  the  persons  having  the  highest 
numbers,  not  exceeding  three,  on  the  list  of  those 
voted  for  as  President,  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives shall  choose  immediately,  by  ballot,  the  Presi- 
dent. But  in  choosing  the  President,  the  votes  shall 
be  taken  by  states,  the  representation  of  each  state 
having  one  vote ;  a  quorum  for  this  purpose  shall 


156  CONSTITUTION,    &C. 

consist  of  a  member,  or  members  from  tvro-tbirds  of 
the  states,  and  a  majority  of  all  the  states  shall  b« 
necessary  to  a  choice.  And  if  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives shall  not  choose  a  President  whenever 
the  right  of  choice  shall  devolve  upon  them,  before 
the  fourth  day  of  March  next,  following,  then  lm 
Vice -President  shall  act  as  President,  as  in  the  easb 
of  the  death,  or  other  constitutional  disability  of  the 
President. 

2.  The  person  having  the   greatest    number 
YOtes  as  Vice-President,  shall  be  the  Vice-PresH 
dent,  if  such  number  be  a  majority  of  the   \\  holt : 
number  of  electors  appointed;  and  if  no  person  have 
a  majority,  then  from   the  two  highest  numbers  o| 
the  list,  the  Senate  shall  choose  the  Vice-Presidenl| 
a  quorum  for  the  purpose  shall  consist  of  two  tliirdi 

f  the  whole  number  of  Senators,  and  a  majority  of* 
he  whole  number  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice. 

3.  But  no  person  constitutionally  ineligible  to  th* 
>ffice  of  President,  shall  be  eligible  to  that  of  Yicet 
President  of  the  United  States. 

Article  the  Thirteenth. 

If  any  citizen  of  the  United  States,  shall  accepfl 
claim,  receive,  or  retain  any  title  of  nobility  or  ij»»J 
nour,  or  shall,  without  the  consent  of  Congress,  acl 
cept  and  retain  any  present,  pension,  office,  OB 
emolument  of  any  kind  whatever,  from  any  Kmpoi 
ror.  King,  Prince,  or  foreign  power,  such  person! 
shall  cease  to  be  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  ami 
shall  be  incapable  of  holding  any  office  of  trust,  od 
profit,  under  them,  or  cilher  of  them. 

[N.B.  This  article  has  been  ratified  by  some  oil 
the  Slates,  but  not  by  a  number  sufficient  to  make 
t  a  part  of  the  Constitution,  ireb.  1319.] 


157 


THE  CONSTITUTION 


COMMONWEALTH  of  PENNSYLVANIA. 

\ 


WE,  the  people  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, ordain  and  establish  this  Constitution  for  its 
Government. 

ARTICLE  I. 

SECTION  I.  The  legislative  power  of  this  com- 
monwealth shall  be  vested  in  a  General  Assembly, 
which  shall  consist  of  a  Senate  and  a  House  of  Re- 
presentatives. 

SECT.  It.  The  Representatives  shall  be  chosen 
annually,  by  the  citizens  ef  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
and  of  each  county  respectively,  on  the  second 
Tuesday  of  October. 

SECT.  III.  No  person  shall  be  a  Representative, 
who  shall  not  have  attained  the  nge  of  twenty-one 
years,  and  have  been  a  citizen  and  inhabitant  of  the 
state  three  years  next  preceding  his  election,  and 
the  last  year  thereof  an  inhabitant  of  the  city  or 
county  in  which  he  shall  be  chosen;  unless  he  shall 
have  been  absent  on  the  public  business  of  the 
O 


158  CONSTITUTION   OP 

United  States,  or  of  this  state.  No  person,  residing 
within  any  city,  town  or  borough,  which  shall  be 
entitled  to  a  separate  representation,  shall  be  elected 
a  member  for  any  county  ;  nor  shall  any  person,  re- 
siding without  the  limits  of  any  such  city,  town,  or 
borough,  be  elected  a  member  thereof. 

SECT.  IV.  Within  three  years  after  the  first  meet- 
ting  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  within  every 
subsequent  term  of  seven  years,  an  enumeration  of 
the  taxable  inhabitants  shall  be  made,  in  such  man- 
ner as  shall  be  directed  by  law.  The  number  of 
Representatives  shall,  at  the  several  periods  of  ma- 
king such  enumeration,  be  fixed  by  the  legislature, 
and  apportioned  among  the  city  of  Philadelphia  and 
the  several  counties,  according  to  the  number  of 
taxable  inhabitants  in  each ;  and  shall  never  be  less 
than  sixty,  nor  greater  than  one  hundred.  Each 
county  shall  have,  at  least,  one  Representative  ;  but 
no  county,  hereafter  erected,  shall  be  entitled  to  a 
separate  representation,  until  a  sufficient  number  of 
taxable  inhabitants  shall  .be  contained  within  it,  to 
entitle  them  to  one  Representative,  agreeably  to  the 
ratio  which  shall  then  be  established. 

SECT.  V.  The  Senators  shall  be  chosen,  for  four 
years,  by  the  citizens  of  Philadelphia,  and  of  the 
several  counties,  at  the  same  time,  in  the  same  man- 
ner, at  the  same  places,  where  they  shall  vote  for 
Representatives. 

SECT.  VI.  The  number  of  Senators  shall,  at  the 
several  periods  of  making  the  enumeration  before- 
rncntioned,.  be  fixed  by  the  legislature,  and  appor- 
tioned among  the  districts,  formed  as  hereinafter  di- 
rected, according  to  the  number  of  taxable  inhabi- 
tants In  each;  and  styall  never  be  less  than  one 
four- h,  nor  greater  than  one  third,  of  the  number  of 
Representatives. 


PENNSYLVANIA.  159 

SECT.  VII.  The  Senators  shall  be  chosen  in  dis- 
tricts, to  be  formed  by  the  legislature,  each  district 
containing  such  a  number  of  taxable  inhabitants  as 
shall  be  entitled  to  elect  not  more  than  four  Sena- 
tors. When  a  district  shall  be  composed  of  two  or 
mere  counties,  they  shall  be  adjoining:.  Neither  the 
city  of  Philadelphia  nor  any  county  shall  be  divided, 
in  forming  a  district. 

SECT.  VIII.  No  person  shall  be  a  Senator,  who 
shall  not  have  attained  the  age  of  twenty-five  years, 
and  have  been  a  citizen  and  inhabitant  of  the  state 
four  years  next  before  his  election,  and  the  last  year 
thereof  an  inhabitant  of  the  district  for  which  he 
shall  be  chosen ;  unless  he  shall  hare  been  absent 
on  the  public  business  of  the  United  States,  or  of 
this  state. 

SECT.  IX.  Immediately  after  the  Senators  shall 
be  assembled,  in  consequence  of  the  first  election, 
subsequent  to  the  first  enumeration,  they  shall  be 
divided,  by  lot,  as  equally  as  may  be,  into  four 
classes.  The  seats  of  the  Senators  of  the  first  class 
shall  be  vacated  at  the  expiration  of  the  first  year, 
of  the  second  class  at  the  expiration  of  the  second 
year,  of  the  third  class  at  the  expiration  of  the  third 
year,  and  of  the  fourth  class  at  the  expiration  of  the 
fourth  year;  so  that  one  fourth  may  be  chosen  every 
year. 

SECT.  X.  The  General  Assembly  shall  meet  on 
the  first  Tuesday  of  December  in  every  year,  unless 
sooner  convened  by  the  Governor. 

SECT.  XI.  Each  house  shall  choose  its  Speaker 
and  other  Officers ;  and  the  Senate  shall  also  choose 
a  Speaker,  pro  tempore,  when  the  Speaker  shall 
exercise  the  office  of  Governor. 


160  CONSTITUTION    OF 

SECT.  XII.  Each  House  shall  judge  of  the  quali- 
fications of  its  members.  Contested  elections  shall 
be  determined  by  a  committee,  to  be  selected, 
formed,  and  regulated  in  such  a  manner,  as  shall  be 
directed  by  law.  A  majority  of  each  House  shall 
constitute  a  quorum  to  do  business;  but  a  smaller 
number  may  adjourn  from  day  to  day,  and  may  be 
authorised,  by  law,  to  "compel  the  attendance  of 
absent  members,  in  such  manner,  and  under  such 
penalties,  as  may  be  provided. 

SECT.  XIII.  Each  House  may  determine  the  rules 
of  its  proceedings,  punish  its  members  for  disorderly 
behaviour,  and,  with  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds, 
expel  a  member;  but  not  a  second  time  for  the  same 
cause  ;  and  shall  have  all  other  powers  necessary  for 
a  branch  bf  the  legislature  of  a  free  state. 

SECT.  XIV.  Each  House  shall  keep  a  journal  of 
its  proceedings,  and  publish  them  weekly,  except 
such  parts  as  may  require  secrecy :  And  the  yeas  and 
nays  of  the  members  on  any  question  shall,  at  the 
desire  of  any  two  of  them,  be  entered  on  the  jour- 
nals. 

SECT-  XV.  The  doors  of  each  House,  and  of  com- 
mittees of  the  whole,  shall  be  open,  unless  when  the 
business  shall  be  such  as  ought  to  be  kept  secret. 

SECT.  XVI.  Neither  House  shall,  without  the  con- 
sent of  the  other,  adjourn  fur  more  than  three  days, 
n»r  to  any  other  place,  than  that  in  which  the  two 
Houses  shall  be  sitting. 

SECT.  XVII.  The  Senators  and  Representatives 
shall  receive  a  compensation  for  their  services,  to 
be  ascertained  by  law,  and  paid  out  of  the  treasury 
of  the  commonwealth.  They  shall,  in  all  cases,  ex- 
cept treason,  felony,  aad  breach  or  surety  (if  the 


PENNSYLVANIA.  161 

peace,  be  privileged  from  arrest  during  their  attend- 
ance at  the  session  of  the  respective  Houses,  and  in 
going  to  and  returning  from  the  same:  And  for 
any  speech  or  debate  in  either  House  they  shall  not 
be  questioned  in  any  other  place. 

SECT.  XVIII.  No  Senator  or  Representative  shall, 
during  the  time  for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected, 
be  appointed  to  any  civil  office  under  this  common- 
wealth, which  shall  have  been  created,  or  the  emolu- 
mcnts  of  which  shall  have  been  encreased,  during 
such  time;  and  no  member  of  Congress,  or  other 
person  holding  any  office  (except  of  attorney  at  law 
and  in  the  militia)  under  the  United  States,  or  this 
commonwealth,  shall  be  a  member  of  either  House 
during  his  continuance  in  Congress,  or  in  office. 

SECT.  XIX.  When  vacancies  happen  in  either 
House,  the  Speaker  shall  issue  writs  of  election  to 
fill  such  vacancies. 

SECT.  XX.  A 11  bills  for  raising  revenue  shall  ori- 
ginate in  the  House  of  Representatives,  but  the 
Senate  may  propose  amendments,  as  in  other  bills. 

SECT.  XXI.  No  money  shall  be  drawn  from  the 
treasury,  bit  in  consequence  of  appropriations  made 
by  law. 

SECT.  XXII.  Every  bill,  which  shall  have  passed 
both  Houses,  shall  be  presented  to  the  Governor: 
If  he  approve,  he  shall  sign  it ;  but  if  he  shall  not 
approve,  he  shall  return  it,  with  his  objections,  to 
the  House  in  which  it  shall  have  originated,  who 
shall  enter  the  objections  at  large  upon  their  jour- 
nals, and  proceed  to  re-consider  it:  If,  after  such 
re-consideration,  two-thirds  of  that  House  shall 
agree  to  pass  the  bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  with  the  ob- 
jections, to  the  other  House,  by  which  likewise  it 
shall  be  re-considered;  and  if  approved  by  two- 
O  3 


162  CONSTITUTION   OP 

thirds  of  that  House,  it  shall  be  a  law.  Bat  in  such 
cases  the  votes  of  both  Houses  shall  be  determined 
by  yeas  and  nays,  and  the  names  of  the  persons 
voting  for  or  against  the  bill  shall  be  entered  on  the 
journals  of  each  House  respectively.  If  any  bill 
shall  not  be  returned  by  the  Governor  within  ten 
days  (Sundays  excepted)  after  it  shall  have  been 
presented  to  him,  it  shall  be  a  law,  in  like  manner 
as  if  he  had  signed  it,  unless  the  General  Assembly, 
by  their  adjournment,  prevent  its  return ;  in  which 
ease  it  shall  be  a  law,  unless  sent  back  within  three 
da}'s  after  their  next  meeting. 

SECT.  XXIII.  Every  order,  resolution,  or  vote, 
to  which  the  concurrence  of  both  Houses  may  be 
necessary  (except  on  a  question  of  adjournment) 
shall  be  presented  to  the  Governor,  and,  before  it 
shall  take  effect,  be  approved  by  him,  or,  being  dis- 
approved, shall  be  re-passed  by  two-thirds  of  both 
Houses,  according  to  the  rules  and  limitations  pre- 
scribed in  case  of  a  bill. 

ARTICLE  II. 

. 

SECTION  I.  The  Supreme  Executive  power  of 
this  commonwealth  shall  be  vested  in  a  Governor. 

SECT.  II.  The  Governor  shall  be  chosen  on  the 
second  Tuesday  of  October,  by  the  citizens  of  the 
commonwealth,  at  the  place*  where  they  shall  res- 
pectively vote  for  Representatives.  The  returns  of 
every  election  for  Governor  shall  be  sealed  up,  and 
transmitted  to  the  seat  of  government,  directed  to 
the  Speaker  of  the  Senate,  who  shall  open  and  pnb- 
lish  them  in  the  presence  of  the  members  of  both 
Houses  of  the  Legislature.  The  person  having  the 


PENNSYLVANIA.  163 

highest  number  of  votes  shall  be  Governor.  But  if 
two  or  more  shall  be  equal  and  highest  in  votes,  one 
of  them  shall  be  chosen  Governor  by  the  joint  vote 
of  the  members  of  both  Houses.  Contested  elec- 
tions shall  be  determined  by  a  committee,  to  be 
selected  from  both  Houses  of  the  Legislature,  and 
formed  and  regulated  iii  such  manner  as  shall  be 
directed  by  law. 

SECT.  III.  The  Governor  shall  hold  his  office  du- 
ring three  years  from  the  third  Tuesday  of  December 
next  ensuing  his  election,  and  shall  not  be  capable  of 
holding  it  longer  than  nine  in  any  term  of  twelve 
years. 

SECT.  IV.  He  shall  be,  at  least,  thirty  years  of 
age,  and  have  been  a  citizen  and  inhabitant  of  this 
state  seven  years  next  before  his  election  ;  unless  he 
shall  have  been  absent  on  the  public  business  of  the 
United  States,  or  of  this  state. 

SECT.  V.  No  member  of  Congress,  or  person 
holding  any  office  under  the  United  States,  or  this 
state,  shall  exercise  the  office  of  Governor. 

SECT.  VI.  The  Governor  shall,  at  stated  times, 
receive,  for  his  services,  a  compensation,  which 
shall  be  neither  increased  nor  diminished  during  the 
period  for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected. 

SECT.  VII.  He  shall  be  coramander-in-chief  of  the 
army  and  navy  of  this  commonwealth,  and  of  the 
militia ;  except  when  they  shall  be  called  into  the 
actual  service  of  the  United  States. 

SECT.  VIII.  He  shall  appoint  all  officers,  whose 
offices  are  established  by  this  Constitution,  or  shall 
be  established  by  law,  and  whose  appointments  are 
not  herein  otherwise  provided  for ;  but  no  person 
shall  be  appointed  to  an  office  within  any  county, 
who  shall  not  have  been  a  citizen  and  inhabitant 


164  CONSTITUTION    OF 

therein  one  year  next  before  his  appointment,  if  the 
county  shall  have  been  so  long  erected ;  but  if  it 
shall  not  have  been  so  long  erected,  then  within -the 
limits  of  the  county  or  counties  out  of  which  it  shall 
have  been  taken.  No  member  of  Congress  from 
this  state,  nor  any  person  holding  or  exercising  any 
office  of  trust  or  profit  under  the  United  States,  shall, 
at  .the  same  time,  hold  or  exercise  the  office  of 
Judge,  Secretary,  Treasurer,  Prothonotary,  Register 
of  Wills,  Recorder  of  Deeds,  Sheriff,  or  any  office  in 
this  state,  to  which  a  salary  is  by  law  annexed,  or 
any  other  office,  which  future  legislatures  shall  de- 
clare incompatible  with  offices  or  appointment* 
under  the  United  States . 

SECT.  IX.  He  shall  have  power  to  remit  fines  and 
forfeitures,  and  grant  reprieves  and  pardons,  except 
in  cases  of  impeachment. 

SECT.  X.  He  may  require  information,  in  writing, 
from  the  officers  in  the  executive  department,  upon 
any  subject  relating  to  the  duties  of  their  respective 
offices. 

SECT.  XI.  He  shall  from  time  to  time,  give  to 
the  General  Assembly  information  of  the  state  of  the 
commonwealth,  and  recommend  to  their  consi- 
deration such  measures  as  he  shall  judge  expedient. 

SECT.  XII.  He  may,  on  extraordinary  occasions, 
convene  the  General  Assembly  ;  and  in  case  of  dis- 
agreement between  the  two  Houses,  with  respect 
to  the  time  o  *'  adjournment,  adjourn  them  to  such 
*ime  as  Ke  shall  think  proper,  not  exceeding  four 
months. 

SECT.  XIII.  He  shall  take  care  that  the  laws  be 
faithfully  executed. 

SECT.  XIV.  In  case  of  the  death  or  resignation  of 
the  Goyernor,  or  of  his  removal  from  office,  the 


PENNSYLVANIA.  165 

Speaker  of  the  Senate  shall  exercise  the  office  of 
Governor,  until  another  Governor  shall  be  duly  qua- 
lified. And  if  the  trial  of  a  contested  election  shall 
continue  longer  than  until  the  third  Tuesday  in  De- 
cember next  ensuing  the  election  of  a  Governor,  the 
Governor  of  the  last  year,  or  the  Speaker  of  the 
Senate,  who  may  be  in  the  exercise  of  the  exe- 
cutive authority,  shall  continue  therein  until  the  de- 
termination of  such  contested  election,  and  until  a 
Governor  shall  be  qualified  as  aforesaid. 

SECT.  XV.  A  Secretary  shall  be  appointed  and 
commissioned  during  the  Governor's  continuance  in 
oflice,  if  he  shall  so  long  behave  himself  well.  He 
shall  keep  a  fair  register  of  all  the  official  acts  and 
proceedings  of  the  Governor,  and  shall,  when  re- 
quired, lay  the  same,  and  all  papers,  minutes,  and 
vouchers,  relative  thereto,  before  either  branch  of 
the  legislature,  and  shall  perform  such  other  duties 
as  shall  be  enjoined  him  by  law. 

ARTICLE  III. 

SECTION  I.  In  elections  by  the  citizens,  every 
freeman  of  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  having  re- 
sided in  the  state  two  years  next  before  the  election, 
and  within  that  time  paid  a  state  or  county  tax, 
which  shall  have  been  assessed  at  least  six  months 
before  the  election,  shall  enjoy  the  rights  of  an  elec- 
tor :  Provided,  that  the  sons  of  persons  qualified  as 
aforesaid,  between  the  ages  of  twenty-one  and  twen- 
t3r-two  years,  shall  be  entitled  to  vote,  although  they 
shall  not  have  paid  taxes. 

SECT.  II.  All  elections  shall  be  by  ballot,  except 
those  by  persons  in  their  representative  capacities, 
who  shall  vote  viva  voce. 


166  CONSTITUTION    OF 

SECT.  III.  Electors  shall,  in  all  cases,  except 
treason,  felony,  and  breach  or  surety  of  the  peace, 
be  privileged  from  arrest  during  their  attendance  on 
elections,  and  in  going  to  and  returning  from  them. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

SECTION  I.  The  Honse  of  Representatives  shall 
have  the  sole  power  of  impeaching. 

SECT.  II.  All  impeachments  shall  be  tried  by  the 
Senate  :  When  sitting  for  that  purpose,  the  Senators 
shall  be  upon  oath  or  affirmation.  No  person  shall 
be  convicted  without  the  concurrence  of  two-thirds 
of  the  members  present. 

SECT  III.  The  Governor  and  all  other  civil  officers, 
under  this  commonwealth,  shall  be  liable  to  impeach- 
ment fur  any  misdemeanor  in  office :  But  judgment, 
in  such  cases,  shall  not  extend  further  than  to  re- 
moval from  office,  and  disqualification  to  hold  any 
office  of  honour,  trust,  or  profit,  under  this  common- 
wealth :  The  party  whether  convicted  or  acquitted, 
shall  nevertheless  be  liable  to  indictment,  trial,  judg- 
ment, and  punishment,  according  to  law, 

ARTICLE  V. 

SECT.  I.  The  Judicial  power  of  this  common- 
wealth shall  be  vested  in  a  Supreme  Court,  in  Courts 
Oyer  and  Terraiuer  and  General  Gaol  Delivery,  in  a 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  Orphan's  Court,  Register's 
Court,  and  a  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  of  the  Peace 
for  each  county,  in  Justices  of  the  Peace,  and  in 
such  other  Courts  as  the  legislature  may,  from  time 
to  time,  establish. 

SECT.  II.  The  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  and 


PENNSYLVANIA.  167 

of  the  several  Courts  of  Common  Pleas,  shall  hold 
their  offices  during  good  behaviour :  But  for  any 
reasonable  cause,  which  shall  not  be  sufficient 
ground  of  impeachment,  the  Governor  may  remove 
any  of  them,  on  the  address  of  two-thirds  of  each 
branch  of  the  legislature.  The  Judges  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  and  the  Presidents  of  the  several  Courts 
of  Common  Pleas  shall,  at  stated  times,  receive,  for 
their  services,  an  adequate  compensation,  to  be 
fixed  by  law,  which  shall  not  be  diminished  during 
their  continuance  in  office  ;  but  they  shall  receive  no 
fees  or  perquisites  of  office,  nor  hold  any  other  office 
of  profit  under  this  commonwealth. 

SECT.  III.  The  jurisdiction  of  the  Supreme  Court 
shall  extend  over  the  state,  and  the  Judges  thereof 
shall,  by  virtue  of  their  offices,  be  Justices  of  Oyer 
and  Terminer  and  General  Gaol  Delivery  in  the 
several  counties. 

SECT.  IV.  Until  it  shall  be  otherwise  directed  by 
law,  the  several  Courts  of  Common  Pleas  shall  be 
established  in  the  following  manner.  The  Gover- 
nor shall  appoint,  in  each  county,  not  fewer  than 
three,  nor  more  than  four,  Judges,  who,  during  their 
continuance  in  office,  shall  reside  in  such  county  : 
The  state  shall  be  divided  by  law  into  circuits,  none 
of  which  shall  include  more  than  six,  nor  fewer  than 
three  counties :  A  president  shall  be  appointed  of 
the  Courts  in  each  circuit,  who,  during  his  con- 
tinuance in  office  shall  reside  therein :  The  Presi- 
dent and  Judges,  any  two  of  whom  shall  be  a  quorum, 
shall  compose  the  respective  Courts  of  Common 
Pleas. 

SECT  V.  The  Judges  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  in  each  county,  shall,  by  virtue  of  their  offices, 
be  Justices  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  and  General  Gaol 


168  CONSTITUTION   OF 

Delivery,  for  the  trial  of  capital  and  other  offenders 
therein  :  Any  two  of  the  said  Judges,  the  President 
being  one,  shall  be  a  quorum ;  but  they  shall  not 
hold  a  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  or  Gaol  De- 
liver}7 in  any  county,  when  the  Judges  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  or  any  of  them,  shall  be  sitting  in  the 
same  county.  The  party  accused,  as  well  as  the 
commonwealth,  may,  under  such  regulations  as  shal! 
be  prescribed  by  law,  remove  the  indictment  and 
proceedings,  or  a  transcript  thereof,  into  the  Su- 
preme Court. 

SECT.  VI;  The  Supreme  Court  and  the  several 
Courts  of  Common  Pleas  shall,  beside  the  powers 
heretofore  usually  exercised  by  them,  have  the 
power  of  a  Court  of  Chancery,  so  far  as  relates  to 
the  perpetuating  of  testimony*  the  obtaining  of  evi- 
dence from  places  not  within  the  state,  and  the  care 
of  the  persons  and  estates  of  those,  who  are  non 
compotes  mentis:  And  the  legislature  shall  vest  in 
the  saW  courts  such  other  powers  to  grant  relief  in 
equity,  as  shall  be  found  necessary  ;  and  may,  from 
time  to  time,  enlarge  or  diminish  those  powers,  or 
vest  them  in  such  other  courts,  as  they  shall  judge 
proper  tor  the  due  administration  of  justice. 

SECT  VII.  The  Judges  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  of  each  county,  any  two  of  whom  shall  be  a 
quorum,  shall  compose  the  Court  of  Quarter  Ses- 
sions of  the  Peace  and  Orphan's  Court  thereof;  and 
the  Register  of  Wills,  together  with  the  said  Judges, 
or  any  two  of  them,  shall  compose  the  Register's 
Court  of  each  county. 

SECT.  VIII.  The  Judges  of  the  Courts  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  shall,  within  their  respective  counties, 
have  the  like  powers  with  the  Judges  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,  to  issue  writs  of  Certiorari  to  the  Jus- 


PENNSYLVANIA.  169 

licesof  the  Peace,  and  to  cause  their  proceedings  to 
be  brought  before  them,  and  the  like  right  and  justice 
to  bo  done. 

SECT  IX.  The  President  of  the  Courts  in  each 
circuit,  within  such  circuit,  and  the  Judges  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  within  their  respective 
counties,  shall  be  Justices  of  the  Peace,  so  far  as 
relates  to  criminal  matters. 

SECT.X.  The  Governor  shall  appoint  a  compe- 
tent number  of  Justices  of  the  Peace,  in  such  con- 
venient districts,  in  each  county,  as  are  or  shall  be 
directed  by  law  :  They  shall  be  commissioned  du- 
ring good  behaviour,  but  may  be  removed  on  con- 
viction of  misbehaviour  in  office,  or  of  any  infa- 
mous crime,  or  on  the  address  of  both  Houses  of  the 
legislature. 

SECT.  XI.  A  Register's  office  for  the  probate  of 
wills  and  granting  letters  of  administration,  and  an 
office  for  the  recording  of  deeds,  shall  be  kept  in  each 
county. 

SECT.  XII.  The  style  of  all  process  shall  be,  The 
Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania ;  all  prosecutions 
shall  be  carried  on  in  the  name  and  by  the  authority 
of  the  coramonuealth  of  Pennsylvania,  and  conclude, 
ayainst  the  peace  and  the  dignity  of  the  same. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

SECTION  I.  Sheriffs  and  Coroners  shall,  at  the 
times  and  places  of  election  of  Representatives,  be 
chosen  by  the  citizens  of  each  county :  Two  persons 
shall  be  chosen  for  each  office,  one  of  whom  for  each 
respectively  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Governor. — 
They  shall  hold  their  offices  for  three  years,  if  they 
shall  so  long  behave  themselves  well,  and  until  a  suc- 
P 


170  CONSTITUTION    OF 

cessor  be  duly  qualified ;  hut  no  person  shall  be  twice 
chosen  or  appointed  Sheriff  in  any  term  of  six 
years.  Vacancies,  in  either  of  the  said  offices,  shall 
be  filled  by  a  new  appointment,  to  be  made  by  the 
Governor,  to  continue  until  the  next  general  elec- 
tion, and  until  a  successor  shall  be  chosen  arid  qua- 
lified as  aforesaid. 

SECT.  II.  The  freemen  of  this  commonwealth 
shall  be  armed  and  disciplined  for  its  defence. — 
Those,  who  conscientiously  scruple  to  bear  arms, 
shall  not  be  compelled  to  do  so  ;  but  shall  pay  an 
equivalent  for  personal  service.  The  militia  officers 
shall  be  appointed  in  such  manner,  and  for  such 
time,  as  shall  be  directed  by  law. 

SECT.  III.  Prothonotaries,  Clerks  of  the  Peace  and 
Orphan's  Courts,  Recorders  of  Deeds,  Registers  of 
Wills  and  Sheriffs,  shall  keep  their  offices  in  the 
county  town  of  the  county  in  which  they  respec- 
tively shall  be  officers,  unless  when  the  Governor 
shall,  for  special  reasons,  dispense  therewith  for  any 
term,  not  exceeding  five  years  after  the  county  shall 
have  been  erected. 

SECT.  IV.  All  commissions  shall  be  in  the  name 
and  by  the  authority  of  the  commonwealth  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  be  sealed  with  the  state  seal,  and 
signed  by  the  Governor. 

SECT.  V.  The  State  Treasurer  shall  be  appointed 
annually,  by  the  joint  vote  of  the  members  of  both 
Houses.  All  other  officers  in  the  treasury  depart- 
ment, attorneys  at  law,  election  officers,  officers  re- 
lating to  taxes,  to  the  poor  and  highways,  constable*, 
and  other  township  officers  shall  be  appointed,  in 
such  manner  as  is  or  shall  be  directed  by  law. 


PENNSYLVANIA.  171 


ARTICLE  VII. 

SECTION  I.  The  Legislature  shall,  as  soon  as  con- 
veniently may  be,  provide,  by  law,  for  the  establish- 
ment of  schools  throughout  the  state,  in  such  manner 
that  the  poor  may  be  taught  gratis. 

SECT.  II.  The  arts  and  sciences  shall  be  promoted 
in  one  or  more  seminaries  of  learning. 

SECT  III.  The  rights,  privileges,  immunities,  and 
estates  of  religious  societies  and  corporate  bodies 
shall  remain,  as  if  the  constitution  of  this  state  had 
not  been  altered  and  amended. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

Members  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  all  offi- 
cers, executive  and  judicial,  shall  be  bound,  by  oath 
or  affirmation,  to  support  the  Constitution  of  this 
coin  nit  -nwealth,  and  to  perform  the  duties  of  their 
respective  offices  with  fidelity. 


ARTICLE  IX. 

That  t/ic  general,  great,  and  essential  Principles  of 
Liberty  and  free  Government  may  be  recognized 
and  unalterably  established,  we  declare, 

SECTION  I.  That  all  men  are  born  equally  free 
find  independent,  and  have  certain  inherent  and  in- 
defeasible rights,  among  which  are  those  of  enjoying 
and  defending  life  and  liberty,  of  acquiring,  posses- 
sing, and  protecting  property  and  reputation,  and  of 
pursuing  their  own  happiness. 


172  CONSTITUTION    OF 

SECT.  II.  That  all  power  is  inherent  in  the  people, 
and  all  free  governments  are  founded  on  their  autho- 
rity, and  instituted  for  their  peace,  safety,  and  hap- 
piness: For  the  advancement  of  those  ends  they 
have,  at  all  times,  an  unalienable  and  indefeasible 
right  to  alter,  reform,  or  abolish  their  government, 
in  such  manner  as  they  may  think  proper, 

SECT.  III.  That  all  men  have  a  natural  and  inde- 
feasible right  to  worship  Almighty  God  according  to 
the  dictates  of  their  own  consciences  ;  that  no  man 
can  of  right  be  compelled  to  attend,  erect  or  support 
any  place  of  worship,  or  to  maintain  any  ministry 
against  his  consent;  that  no  human  authority  can, 
in  any  case  whatever,  controul  or  interfere  with  the 
rights  of  conscience ;  and  that  no  preference  shall 
ever  be  given,  by  law,  to  any  religious  establish- 
ments  or  modes  of  worship. 

SECT.  IV.  That  no  person,  who  acknowledges  the 
being  of  a  God  and  a  future  state  of  rewards  and 
punishments,  shall,  on  account  of  his  religious  sen- 
timents, be  disqualified  to  hold  any  office  or  place  of 
trust  or  profit  under  this  commonwealth. 

SECT.  V.  That  elections  shall  be  free  and  equal. 

SECT.  VI.  That  trial  by  jury  shall  be  as  heretofore, 
and  the  right  thereof  remain  inviolate. 

SECT.  VII.  That  the  printing  presses  shall  be  free 
to  every  person  who  undertakes  to  examine  the 
proceedings  of  the  legislature,  or  any  branch  of  go- 
vernment :  And  no  law  shall  ever  be  made  to  re- 
strain the  ri& ht  thereof.  The  free  communication  of 
thoughts  and  opinions  is  one  of  the  invaluable  rights 
of  man  ;  and  every  citizen  may  freely  speak,  write, 
and  print,  on  any  subject,  being  responsible  for  the 
abuse  of  that  liberty.  In  prosecutions  for  the  publi- 
cation of  papers  investigating  the  official  conduct 


PENNSYLVANIA.  173 

of  officers,  or  men  in  a  public  capacity,  or  where  the 
matter  published  is  proper  for  public  information, 
the  truth  thereof  may  be  given  in  evidence  ;  and,  in 
all  indictments  for  libels,  the  jury  shall  have  aright 
to  determine  the  law  and  the  facts,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  court  as  in  other  cases. 

SECT.  VIII.  That  the  people  shall  be  secure  in 
their  persons,  houses,  papers,  and  possessions,  from 
unreasonable  searches  and  seizures:  And  that  no 
warrant  to  search  any  place,  or  to  seize  any  person 
or  things,  shall  issue,  without  describing  them  as 
nearly  as  may  be,  nor  without-  probable  cause  sup- 
ported by  oath  or  affirmation. 

SECT.  IX.  That,  in  all  criminal  prosecutions,  the 
accused  hath  a  right  to  be  heard  by  himself  and  his 
council,  to  demand  the  nature  and  cause  of  the  accu- 
sation against  him,  to  meet  the  witnesses  face  to  face, 
to  hnve  compulsory  process  for  obtaining  witnesses 
in  his  favour,  and,  in  prosecutions  by  indictment  or 
information,  a  speedy  public  trial,  by  an  impartial 
jury  of  the  vicinage :  That  he  cannot  be  compelled  to 
give  evidence  against  himself,  nor  can  he  be  deprived 
of  his  life,  liberty,  or  property,  unless  by  the  judg- 
ment of  his  peers,  or  the  law  of  the  land. 

SJECT.X.  That  no  person  shall  for  any  indictable 
offence,  be  proceeded  against  criminally  by  informa- 
tion, except  in  cases  arising  in  the  land  or  naval 
forces,  or  in  the  militia,  when  in  actual  service  in 
time  of  war  or  public  danger,  or  by  leave  of  the  court, 
for  oppression  and  misdemeanour  in  office.  No 
person  shall,  for  the  same  offence,  be  twice  put  in 
jeopardy  of  life  or  limb  ;  nor  shall  any  man's  pro- 
perty be  taken  or  applied  to  public  use,  without  the 
consent  of  his  representatives,  and  without  just  com- 
pensation being  made. 

P2 


]74  CONSTITUTION    OF 

SECT.  XI.  That  all  courts  shall  he  open,  and  every 
man,  for  an  injury  done  him  in  his  lands,  goods,  per- 
son, or  reputation,  shall  have  remedy  hy  the  due 
course  of  law,  and  right  and  justice  administered, 
without  sale,  denial,  or  delay.  Suits  may  be  brought 
against  the  commonwealth  in  such  manner,  in  such 
courts,  and  in  such  cases,  as  the  legislature  may  by 
law  direct. 

SECT.  XII.  That  no  power  of  suspending  laws 
shall  be  exercised,  unless  by  the  legislature,  or  its 
authority. 

SECT.  XIII.  That  excessive  bail  shall  not  be  re- 
quired, nor  excessive  fines  imposed,  nor  cruel  pu- 
nishments inflicted. 

SECT.  XIV.  That  all  prisoners  shall  be  bailable  by 
sufficient  sureties,  unless  for  capital  offences,  when 
the  proof  is  evident  or  presumption  great ;  and  the 
privilege  of  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  shall  not  be 
suspended,  unless  when,  in  cases  of  rebellion  or  in- 
vasion, the  public  safety  may  require  it. 

SECT.  XV.  That  no  commission  of  Oyer  and  Ter- 
miner,  or  Gaol  Delivery  shall  be  issued. 

SECT.  XVI.  That  the  person  of  a  debtor,  where 
there  is  not  strong  presumption  of  fraud,  shall  not  be 
continued  in  prison,  after  delivering  up  his  estate 
for  the  benefit  of  his  creditors,  in  such  manner  as 
shall  be  prescribed  by  law. 

SECT.  XVII.  That  no  ex  post  facto  law,  nor  any 
law  impairing  contracts  shall  be  made. 

SECT.  XVIII.  That  no  person  shall  be  attainted 
of  treason  or  felony  by  the  legislature. 

SECT.  XIX.  That  no  attainder  shall  work  corrup- 
tion of  blood,  nor,  except  during  the  life  of  the  offen- 
der, forfeiture  of  estate  to  the  commonwealth  :  that 
the  estates  of  such  persons  as  shall  destroy  their  own 


PENNSYLVANIA.  175 

lives  shall  descend  or  vest  as  in  case  of  natural 
death  ;  and  if  any  person  shall  be  killed  by  casuality, 
there  shall  be  no  forfeiture  by  reason  thereof. 

SECT.  XX.  That  the  citizens  have  right,  in  a 
peaceable  manner,  to  assemble  together  for  their 
common  good,  and  to  apply  to  those  invested  with 
the  powers  of  government  for  redress  of  grievances, 
or  other  proper  purposes,  by  petition,  address,  or 
remonstrance. 

SECT.  XXI.  That  the  right  of  citizens  to  bear 
arms,  in  defence  of  themselves  aud  the  state,  shall 
not  be  questioned. 

SECT.  XXII.  That  no  standing  army  shall,  in 
time  of  peace,  be  kept  up  without  the  consent  of  the 
legislature,  and  the  military  shall,  in  all  cases,  and 
at  all  times,  be  in  strict  subordination  to  the  civil 
power, 

SECT.  XXIII.  That  no  soldier  shall,  iu  time  of 
peace,  be  quartered  in  any  house,  without  the  con- 
sent of  the  owner,  nor  in  time  of  war,  but  in  a  man- 
ner to  be  prescribed  by  law. 

SECT.  XXIV.  That  the  legislature  shall  not  grant 
any  title  of  nobility  or  hereditary  distinction,  nor 
create  any  office,  the  appointment  of  which  shall  be 
for  a  longer  term  than  during  good  behaviour. 

SECT.  XXV.  That  emigration  from  the  state  shall 
not  be  prohibited. 

SECT.  XXVI,  To  guard  against  transgressions  of 
the  high  powers  which  we  have  delegated,  n-e  de- 
clare, That  every  thing  in  this  article  is  exceptcd 
out  of  the  general  powers  of  government,  and  shall 
for  ever  remain  inviolate. 


176  CONSTITUTION    OF 

SCHEDULE. 

That  no  Inconvenience  may  arise  from  the  Alterations 
and  Amendments  in  the  Constitution  of  this  Com- 
monwealth, and  in  order  to  carry  the  same  into  com- 
plete operation,  it  is  hereby  declared  and  ordainedt 

I.  That  all  laws  of  this  commonwealth,  in  force 
at  the  time  of  making  the  said  alterations  and  aniejid- 
ments  in  the  said  Constitution,  and  not  inconsistent 
therewith,    and    all    rights,    actions,    prosecutions, 
claims  and  contracts,  as  well  of  individuals  as  of 
bodies  corporate,  shall  continue  as  if  the  said  altera- 
tions and  amendments  had  not  been  made. 

II.  That  the  President  and  Supreme  Executive 
Council  shall  continue  to  exercise  the   executive 
authority  of  this  commonwealth,  as  heretofore,  until 
the  Third  Tuesday  of  December  next ;  but  no  inter- 
mediate vacancies  in  th»  Council  shall  be  supplied 
by  new  elections. 

III.  That  all  officers  in  the  appointment  of  the 
executive  department  shall  continue  in  the  exercise 
of  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices  until  the  first 

•day  of  September,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
ninety-one,  unless  their  commissions  shall  sooner 
expire  by  their  own  limitations,  or  the  said  offices 
become  vacant  by  death  or  resignation,  and  no 
longer,  unless  reappointed  and  commissioned  by  the 
Governor;  except  that  the  judges  of  the  supreme 
court  shall  hold  their  offices  for  the  terms  in  their 
commissions  respectively  expressed. 

IV.  That  justice  shall  be  administered  in  the  se- 
veral counties  of  the  state,  until  the  period  aforesaid, 
by  tie  same  justices,  in  the  same  courts,  and  in  the 
name  manner,  05  heretofore. 


"ENNSYLVAN1A.  177 

V.  That  no  person  now  in  commission  as  sheriff 
shall  be  eligible  at  the   next   election  for  a  longer 
term    than  will,  with  the  time  which  he  shall  have 
served  in  the  said  olfice,  complete  the  term  of  three 
years. 

VI.  That,  until  the  first  enumeration  shall  be  made, 
as  directed  in  the  fourth  section  of  the  first  article 
of  the  Constitution,  established  by  this  Convention, 
the  city   of  Philadelphia  and   the  several  counties 
shall  be  respectively  entitled  tt>  elect  the  same  num- 
ber of  Representatives   as   is    now  prescribed   by 
law. 

VII.  That  the  first  Senate  shall  consist  of  eighteen 
members,  to  be  chosen  in  districts  formed  as  follows, 
to  wit:  The  city  of  Philadelphia  and  the  counties  of 
Philadelphia  and  Delaware  shall  be  a  district,  and 
elect  three  Senators:  The  County  of  Chester  shall 
be  a  district,  and  shall  elect  one  Senator:  The  county 
of,  Bucks  shall  be  a  district,    and   shall   elect  one 
Senator:    The  county  of   Montgomery  shall   be   a 
district,  and  shall  elect  one  Senator:  The  county  of 
Northampton  shall  be  a  district,  and  shall  elect  one 
Senator:  The  counties  of  Lancaster  and  York  shall 
be  a  district,  and  shall  elect  three   Senators:  The. 
counties  of  Berks  and  Dauphin  shall  bfr  a  district, 
and  shall  elect  two  Senators:  The  counties  of  Cum 
berland   and   Miftlin   shall  be  a  district,  and  shall 
elect  one  Senator:  The  counties  of  Northumberland, 
Luzerne,  arid  Huntingdon,  shall  be  a  district,  and 
shall  elect  one  Senator:  The  counties  of  Bedford 
and  Franklin   sliall   be   a  district,    and  shall  elect 
one   Senator:   The  counties  of  Westmoreland  and 
Allegheney  shall  be  a  district,  and  shall  elect  oue 
Senator:    And    the    counties    of   Washington    and 
1'ayetle  shall  be  a  district,  and  shall  elect  two  Sena- 


178  CONSTITUTION    OF 

tors;  Which  Senators  shall  serve  until  the  first  enu- 
meration before  mentioned  shall  be  made,  and  the 
representation  in  both  Houses  of  the  legislature  shall 
be  established  by  law,  and  chosen  as  in  the  Consti- 
tution is  directed.  Any  vacancies  which  shall  hap- 
pen  in  the  Senate,  within  the  said  time,  shall  be  sup- 
plied as  prescribed  in  the  nineteenth  section  of  the 
fiist  article. 

VIII.  That  the  elections  of  Senators  shall  be  con- 
ducted,  and  the  returns  thereof  made  to  the  Senate, 
in  the  same  manner  as  is  prescribed  by  the  election 
laws  of  the  state,  for  conducting  and  making  return 
of  the  election  of  Representatives.  In  those  dis- 
tricts, which  consist  of  more  than  one  county,  the 
judges  of  the  district  elections  within  each  county, 
after  having  formed  a  return  of  the  whole  election 
within  that  county,  in  such  manner  as  is  directed  by 
law,  shall  send  the  same,  by  one  or  more  of  their 
number,  to  the  place  hereinafter  mentioned  within 
the  district,  of  which  such  county  is  a  part,  where  the 
judges  so  met  shall  compare  and  cast  up  the  several 
county  returns,  and  execute,  under  their  hands  and 
seals,  one  general  and  true  return  for  the  whole  dis- 
trict, that  is  to  say  ;  the  judges  of  the  district  com- 
posed of  the  city  of  Philadelphia;  and  the  counties  of 
Philadelphia  and  Delaware  shall  meet  in  the  state- 
house  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  the  judges  of  the 
district  composed  of  the  counties  of  Lancaster  and 
York  shall  meet  at  the  court-house  in  the  count)  of 
Lancaster  ;  the  judges  of  the  district  composed  of 
the  counties  of  Berks  and  Dauphin  shall  meet  atMid- 
dletown,  in  the  county  of  Berks;  the  judges  of 
the  district  composed  of  the  counties  of  Cumber- 
land and  Mifflin  shall  meet  in  Greenwood  township, 
county  of  Cumberland,  at  the  house  now  occupied 


PENNSYLVANIA.  179 

by  David  Miller  ;  the  judges  of  the  district  com- 
posed  of  the  counties  of  Northumberland,  Luzerne, 
and  Huntingdon,  shall  meet  in  the  town  of  Sunbury; 
the  judges  of  the  district  composed  of  the  counties 
of"  Bedford  and  Franklin  shall  meet  at  the  house  now- 
occupied  by  John  Dickey,  in  Air  township,  Bedford 
county  ;  the  judges  of  the  district  composed  of  the 
counties  of  Westmoreland  and  Allegheney  shall 
meet  in  Westmoreland  county,  at  the  court-house 
in  the  town  of  Greensborough  \  and  the  judges  of 
(he  district  composed  of  the  counties  of  Washing- 
ton and  Fayette  shall  meet  at  the  court-house  in 
tbe  town  of  Washington,  in  Washington  county,  on 
the  third  Tuesday  in  October,  respectively,  for  the 
purposes  aforesaid. 

IX.  That  the  election  of  the  Governor  shall  be 
conducted  in  the  several  counties,  in  the  manner 
prescribed  by  the  laws  of  the  state  for  the  election 
of  Representatives  ;  and  the  returns  in  each  county 
•hall  be  sealed  by  the  judges  of  the  elections,  and 
transmitted  to  the  President  of  the  Supreme  Exe- 
cutive Council,  directed  to  the  Speaker  of  the  Se- 
nate, as  soon  after  the  election  as  may  be. 


180 

Extract  from  an  Act  to  enable  Aliens  to  purchase  and  hold 
Real  Estates,  within  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania — 
pushed  '24th  March,  1818. 

SECT.].  From  and  after  the  passing  of  this  act,  it 
shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  all  and  every  foreigner  and 
foreigners,  alien  or  aliens,  not  being  the  subject  or 
subjects  of  some  sovereign  state  or  power  which  is  or 
shall  be  at  the  time  or  times  of  such  purchase  or  pur- 
chases at  var  with  the  United  States  of  America,  to 
purchase  lands,  tenements,  and  hereditaments  within 
this  Commonwealth,  not  exceeding  five  thousand  acres, 
and  to  have  and  to  hold  the  same  to  them,  iheir  heirs 
and  assigns  for  ever,  as  fully  to  all  intents  and  pur- 
poses as  any  natural  born  citizen  or  citizens  may  or 
can  do. 


INSTRUCTIONS  TO  ALIENS, 

arriving  in  the  Untied  States,  vhr  may  be  desirous  of  becom- 
ing citizens  thereof. 

Three  things  are  indispensable  to  the  naturalization 
of  an  alien,  namely  ; 

1.  A  repoit  of  himself  on  his  arrival  in  the  United 
States. 

2.  A  declaration  of  lona  fide  intention  to  become  a 
citizen. 

3.  A  declaration,  upon  oath  or  affirmation,  to  support 
the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  a  renunciation  j 
of  all  foreign  allegiance. 

first — A  report  of  himself,  if  of  the  age  of  twenty-] 
one-years  ;  or,  if  under  that  age,  the  report  to  be  made 
for  him  by  his  parent,  guardian,  muster,  or  mistress  Itj 
must  be  made  to  the  clerk  of  the  district  court  of  thej 
district  where  the  alien  arrives,  or  to  some  other  court| 
of  the  United  States,  or  of  either  of  the  territorial  dis- 
tricts, or  of  a  particular  state. 


INSTRUCTIONS   TO   ALIENS.          181 

No.  1.  Form  qf  Report. 


4) 

13 

c> 

§ 

C  ^J 

1 

8 

"S*s 

-^   C 

Name. 

M 

1 

I 

rt 

?! 

M 

1 

a 
fc 

I 

S' 

j! 

James  Alvin. 

Cork, 

40 

Ireland. 

King  of  G. 
Britain  and 

Eng 

Bait 

Ireland. 

Sarah   Alvin, 

Tyrone, 

35 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Joseph  Alvin, 

Cork, 

10 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Mary    Alvin, 

do. 

9 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

John     Alvin 

Dublin, 

7 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

Tho.  Jones,  } 
a  parent.  \ 

Armagh, 

45 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

at  the  place  of  arriral,  or  qf  >   TAMFS   AT  VTNT 
,  icAen  f At  report  u  anadt,  5  J          S  ALVIN» 
for  himself  and  family. 

The  foregoing  is  an  example  of  a  report  for  a  whole 
family.  Individuals  of  twenty-one  years  of  age,  having 
no  family,  may,  of  course,  report  themselves  separately, 
observing  the  same  form.  In  the  case  of  a  minor  ar- 
riving alone,  and  having  no  parent,  guardian,  master, 
or  mistress,  he  should  be  reported  by  some  adult  friend, 
residing  in  the  United  States.  The  clerk  will  receive 
and  register  the  report;  and  his  fee,  for  so  doing,  is 
fifty  cents. 

Secondly. — Two  years  after  the  date  of  the  preceding 
report,  (but  no  sooner,)  the  aliens  mentioned  therein 
may  proceed  to  take  the  second  preparatory  step,  which 
Q 


182       INSTRUCTIONS  TO  ALIENS. 

is  a  declaration  oflonafide  intention  to  become  citizens, 
and  must  be  made  before  the  supreme  superior  district, 
or  circuit  court  of  some  of  the  states,  or  of  the  ter- 
ritorial districts  of  the  United  States,  or  a  circuit 
or  district  court  of  the  United  States,  in  the  following 
form : — 

2V, .  2.  Form  of  a  declaration  of  bonafide  intention  to  become* 
a  citizen. 

I,  JAMES  ALVIN,  a  native  of  Cork,  in  Ireland,  of  the 
age  of  42  years,  and  now  or  lately  owing  allegiance  to  j 
his  Majesty  the  Ring  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great 3 
Britain  and  Ireland,  do  hereby  declare,  that  it  is  oona 
fide  my  intention  to  become  a  citizen  of  the  UnitecR 
States,  and   to  renounce,  for  ever,  all  allegiance  and 
fidelity  to   any  foreign    prince,    potentate,   state,   or 
sovereignty  whatever  ;  and  particularly  to  renounce,^ 
for  ever,  all  allegiance  and  fidelity  to  his  said  Majesty^ 
the  King  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great  Biitain  and! 
Ireland. 

JAMES  ALVIN.    ; 
Sworn  to,  or  affirmed,  in  open  court. 

Thirdly. — Declaration,  upon  oath,  or  affirmation,  to] 
support  the  constitution,  and  renunciation  of  foreign! 
allegiance.  This  is  the  final  step.  It  may  be  made 
three  years  after  the  declaration,  (No.  2;)  but  no  sooner.;] 
When  ihe  alien  is  about  to  make  it,  he  must  apply  to 
the  clerk  of  the  court  with  whom  he  filed  his  report, 
(No.  ],)  who  will  furnish  him  with  a  certificate  thereof,' 
for  a  fee  of  fifty  cents  j  and  also  to  the  clerk  of  the! 
court  wherein  his  declaration  (No.2,)  has  been  made] 
and  recorded,  from  whom  he  may  likewise  procure  ai 
certificate  of  such  declaration  having  been  made.  The 
alien  must  then  apply  to  a  supreme  superior  district,! 
or  circuit  court  of  some  one  of  the  state.*,  or  of 
*he  territorial  districts  of  the  United  States  ;  or  a  circuij 


INSTRUCTIONS   TO   ALIENS.         183 

or  district  court  of  the  United  States  ;  and  with  the  two 
certificates  mentioned,  present  the  following  applica- 
tion : — 

No.  3.  Form  of  the  Application. 

To  the  honourable  the  district  court  of  the  United  States 
for  the  district  of  Pennsylvania,  now  sitting  in  the 
city  of  Philadelphia. 

The  application  of  James  Alvin  respectfully  sheweth: 
The  said  applicant  has  made  report,  and  caused 
registry  to  be  made  of  himself,  with  a  view  to  his  natu- 
ralization, according  to  the  law  of  the  United  States  in 
that  case  enacted  ;  a  certificate  of  which  report  and 
registry,  is  herewith  exhibited  ;  and  has,  moreover, 
made  the  declaration  of  his  bonafide  intention  to  become 
a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  as  required  by  law,  of 
which  a  certificate  is  likewise  herewith  presented — 
Wherefore  the  said  applicant  respectfully  prays  the 
honourable  the  court  that  he  may,  in  the  usual  form,  be 
admitted  a  citizen  of  the  United  States. 

JAMES  ALVIN, 

Upon  this  application  the  court  must  be  satisfied — 

1st.  That  the  alien  has  resided  within  the  United 
States  five  years  at  least. 

2d.  That  he  has  resided  within  the  state  or  territory, 
where  the  court  is  at  the  time  held,  one  year  at  least. 

3d.  That,  during  the  five  years,  the  alien  has  behaved 
as  a  man  of  good  moral  character — attached  to  the 
principles  of  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  and 
well  disposed  to  the  good  order  and  happiness  of  the 
same. 

The  oath  of  the  applicant  will  in  no  case  be  allowed 
to  prove  his  residence. 

Upon  being  satisfied  upon  these  points,  the  court  will 
admit  the  alien  to  citizenship,  upon  his  making  thf 
following  declaration : 


184         INSTRUCTIONS   TO   ALIENS. 

No.  4.  Form  of  the  final  declaration. 

I,  JAMES  ALVIN,  do  hereby  declare,  that  I  will  sup* 
port  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  that  I  do 
absolutely  and  entirely  renounce  and  abjure  all  allegi- 
ance and  fidelity  to  every  foreign  Prince,  Potentate, 
State,  or  Sovereignty  whatever  ;  and  particularly  I  da 
hereby  absolutely  and  entirely  renounce  and  abjure  all 
allegiance  and  fidelity  to  the  King  of  the  United 
Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland. 

JAMES  ALVIN. 
Sworn  to,  or  affirmed,  in  open  court. 

If  the  alien,  applying  for  admission,  has  borne  any 
hereditary  title,  or  been  of  any  of  the  orders  of  nobility, 
he  must  add  to  the  next  preceding  declaration  as 
follows  :  And, furthermore,  I  do  hereby  expressly  renounce 
all  claim  to  any  hertditary  title,  or  order  of  nobility,  and  es- 
pecially to  the  title  of  Viscount,  Earl,  or  Marquis,  (as  the  case 
may  be,)  which  I  have  heretofore  borne. 

The  clerk  of  the  court  will  record  all  these  proceed- 
ings, and  will  furnish,  on  application,  a  certificate  of. 
citizenship,  which  will  be  evidence  that  the  alien  has 
been  duly  naturalized. 

General  Observations. 

Every  court  of  record,  in  any  individual  state,  having 
common  law  jurisdiction,  and  a  seal,  and  clerk  or 
prothonotary,  is  considered  as  a  district  court,  within 
the  meaning  of  the  act  concerning:  naturalization. 

The  provisions  of  the  act  respecting  naturalization 
have  reference  to  free  white  aliens  only. 

Aliens  residing  within  the  limits  and  under  the  juris- 
diction of  the  United  States,  between  the  18th  day  of 
June,  1798,  and  the  14th  day  of  April,  1802,  and  who 
have  continued  so  to  reside,  may  be  admitted  citizens 
without  a  compliance  with  that  provision  of  the  law 
require!  a  declaration  of  bona  fide  intention. 


INSTRUCTIONS   TO   ALIENS.         185 

Any  alien  who  has  made  report  on  his  arrival  in  the 
United  States,  (as  in  No.  1,)  and  who  has  made  a  declara- 
tion (as  in  No.  2,)  ofbonafide  intention,  dying  before  he 
is  actually  naturalized,  his  widow  and  children  are  con- 
sidered as  citizens,  and  will  be  entitled  to  all  rights  and 
privileges  as  such  upon  taking  the  oath  prescribed  by 
law, (as  in  No. 4.) 

The  children  of  persons  duly  naturalized  under  any 
of  the  laws  of  the  United  States ;  or  who  previously  to 
the  passing  of  any  law  on  that  subject  by  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States,  [i.  e.  previously  to  the  26th 
of  March,  1790,]  may  have  become  citizens  of  any  one 
the  states,  under  the  laws  thereof,  being  under  the  age 
of  21  at  the  time  of  their  parent's  being  naturalized, 
are,  if  dwelling  in  the  United  States,  considered 
citizens. 


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BRACKENRIDGE's  HISTORY  of  the  LATE  WAR 
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BRITAIN;  containing  a  Minute  Account  of  the 
various  Military  and  Naval  Operations,  illustrated 
with  plates,  12mo.  7s.  6d.  boards. 

DARBY'S  EMIGRANT'S  GUIDE  to  the  WEST- 
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TERRITORIES  ;  accompanied  by  a  Map  of  the 
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graved expressly  for  this  Work,  8vo.  12*. 

BROWN'S  WESTERN  GAZETTEER,or  Emigrant's 
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Tenessee,  and  Mississippi,  and  the  Territories  of 
Illinois,  Missouri,  Alabama,  Michigan,  and  North- 
Western  j  with  Directions  to  Emigrants,  Svo.  10s.  6d. 
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Imported  by  John  Miller.  5 

HUNT'S  HISTORY  of  the  LATE  WAR  BE- 
TWEEN the  UNITED  STATES  and  GREAT 
BRITAIN  containing  also  a  Sketch  of  the  late 
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LETTERS  from  the  Hon:  DAVID  HUMPHREYS, 
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containing  some  Account  of  the  Serpent  of  the 
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OFFICIAL  REPORTS  of  the  CANAL  COMMIS- 
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Maps  and  Profiles,  8vo.  12s.  boards. 

DE  WITT  CLINTON'S  INTRODUCTORY  DIS- 
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boards. 

HANNAH  ADAMS's  DICTIONARY  of  all  RELI- 
GIONS and  RELIGIOUS  DENOMINATIONS, 
Ancient  and  Modern,  6vo.  12s.  boards. 


<>  Ammcan  Books, 

The  WORKS  of  FISHER  AMES  :*to  which  are  pre- 
fixed, Notices  of  his  Life  and  Character,  and  a 
portrait,  8vo.  18s.  boards. 

The  BRIDAL  of  VAUMOND  ;  a  Metrical  Romance, 
inscribed  to  Washington  Irving,  Esq.  ISmo.  5s. 
boards. 

The  YEAR ;  a  Poem  in  three  Cantos,  by  W.  L. 
PIERCE,  18mo.  5*.  6d.  boards. 

FRENEAU's  POEMS,  2  vol.  I8mo.  9*.  boards. 

DABNEY's  POEMS,  Original  and  Translated,  18mo. 
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Imported  by  John  Miller.  7 

CRYSTALINA,  a  Fairy  Tale,  12mo.  Ss.  6d.  boards. 
The  LIFE  of  Dr.  SAMUEL  JOHNSON,  the  First 
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TOWN,  A.M.  12s.  bound. 


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BOOKS 

RECENTLY     PUBLISHED     BY 

JOHN  MILLER, 

BURLINGTON   ARCADE,    PICCADILLY. 


NARRATIVE  of  a  VOYAGE  to  the  SPANISH 
MAIN,  in  the  Ship,  "  Two  Friends."  The  occu- 
pation of  Amelia  Island,  by  M'GREGOR—  Sketches 
of  the  Province  of  East  Florida,  and  Anecdotes 
Illustrative  of  the  Habits  and  Manners  of  the  Semi- 
nole  Indians;  with  an  Appendix,  containing  a 
Detail  of  the  Seminole  War,  and  the  Execution  of 
Arbuthnot  and  Ambrister,  8vo.  9s  boards. 

"  We  owe  to  him,  (the  Author,)  the  only 
*'  true  and  correct  history  which  has  yet  been  given 
"  of  the  views  and  conduct  of  M'Gregor  in  this 
tl  invasion.  He  has  also  given  some  very  important 
(t  information  relative  to  the  policy  of  the  United 
«'  States  with  respect  to  Spain." 

Edinburgh  Monthly  Review,  for  September 

TWO  PAPERS,  a  Theatrical  Critique ;  and  an  Essay 
(being  No.  999  of  the  Pretender)  on  Sonnet  Writing 
and  Sonnet  Writers  in  general ;  including  a  Sonnet 
on  Myself.  Attributed  to  the  Editor  of  the  Ex-m— r, 
preceded  by  proofs  of  their  Authenticity,  founded 
on  the  Authority  of  the  Internal  Evidence. — 8vo.  2s. 
"  None  but  himself  can  be  his  parallel.*' 

MISANTHROPY,  and  other  Poems,  by  JOSEPH 
SNOW,  foolscap  8vo.  6*.  bound. 

A  POETICAL  EPISTLE  to  Lord  Byron,  8vo.  Is.  6d. 

"  There  is  certainly  an  energy  and  a  point  in  this 
Epistle,  which  shews  it  to  be  the  work  of  no  com- 


10          Books  published  by  John  Miller. 

mon  hand.  The  author  gives  every  credit  that  is 
due  to  the  genius  of  Lord  Byron  ;  he  appears  to 
esteem  him  as  a  poet  higher,  perhaps,  than  we  do 
ourselves.  It  is  the  misapplication  of  those 
powers,  which  is  the  object  of  this  animadversion, 
which  is  conceived  with  justice,  and  is  expressed 
with  spirit."  Vide  British  C>  itic. 

TRIBUTARY  LINES  to  the  Memory  of  H,  R.  H. 
the  Princess  Charlotte  of  Wales  ;  by  the  Author  of 
a  Poetical  Epistle  to  Lord  Byron,  Svo.  Is.  Crf. 
"  Beloved  of  Heav'n,  these  humble  lines  forgive, 
"  That  sing  of  THEE,  and  thug  aspire  to  live." 

CRABBE. 

A  LETTER  to  WILLIAM  GIFFORD,  Esq.  from 
WILLIAM  HAZLITT,  Esq.  Svo.  3s. 

"  Fit  pugil,  et  inedicum  urget.'* 

The  PROSE  WORKS  of  JOHN  MILTON,  con- 
taining  his  principal  Political  and  Ecclesiastical 
Pieces,  with  New  Translations  and  an  Introduction, 
By  GEORGE  BURNETT,  A.M.  formerly  of 
Baliol  College,  Oxford ;  Author  of  "  Specimens  of 
English  Prose  Writers,"  &c.  &c.  in  2  thick  volumesf 
12mo.  18s.  boards. 

LIFE  of  PILL  GARLICK,  (Second  Edition),  12mo. 
8s.  boards. 

MEMOIRS  OF  MYSELF,  by  PILL  GARLICK, 
12mo.  7s.  bound. 

OVID's  METAMORPHOSES;  translated  by  THO- 
MAS ORGER,  with  the  Latin  Text,  Svo.  II.  is. 
boards. 

A  TRACT  ON  SAVING  BANKS,  to  which  is 
added  a  Short  and  Practical  Plan,  consisting  of 
Twelve  Regulations,  easily  applicable  to  the  circum- 
stances of  any  District ;  by  HORACE  TWISS,  Esq. 
Svo.  Is. 


PLAYS, 

RECENTLY     PUBLISHED    BY 

JOHN  MILLER, 

BURLINGTON   ARCADE,   PICCADILLY* 

The  GNOME  KING;  or  the  Giant  Mountains:  a 
Dramatic  Legend,  in  Two  Acts,  as  performed  at 
the  Theatre  Royal,  Covent  Garden,  2*. 

The  MARRIAGE  of  FIGARO,  a  Comic  Opera, 
in  Three  Acts,  by  HENRY  R.  BISHOP,  Esq.  as 
performed  at  the  Theatre  Royal,  Covent  Garden, 
2s.  6d. 

SWEDISH  PATRIOTISM,  or  the  Signal  Fire; 
a  Melo-Drama,  in  Two  Acts,  by  WILLIAM  AB- 
BOTT, Esq.  as  performed  at  the  Theatre  Royal, 
Covent  Garden,  2*. 

MELO-DRAME  MAD,  or  the  Siege  of  Troy,  a  new 
Comic  Melange,  by  THOMAS  DIBDIN,  Esq. 
as  performed  at  the  Surrey  Theatre,  Is. 

DON  GIOVANNI,  or  a  Spectre  on  Horseback;  a 
Comic  Extravaganza,  in  Two  Acts,  by  THOMAS 
DIBDIN,  Esq.  as  performed  at  the  Surrey  Theatre, 
1*.  6d. 

A  ROLAND  FOR  AN  OLIVER,  a  Farce,  in  Two 
Acts,  by  THOMAS  MORTON,  Esq.  a*  performed 
at  the  Theatre  Royal,  Covent  Garden,  2*. 

ROB  ROY  MACGREGOR,  or  Auld  Lang  Syne,  a 
Musical  Drama,  in  Three  Acts,  by  ISAAC  PO- 
COCK,  Esq.  as  performed  at  the  Theatre  Royal, 
Covent  Garden,  (Second  Edition,)  35. 


12          Plays  published  by  John  Miller. 

GUY  MANNERING,  or  the  Gypsey'a  Prophecy;  a 
Musical  Play,  in  Three  Acts,  by  DANIEL  TERRY, 
as  performed  at  the  Theatre  Royal,  Covent  Garden. 
(Fourth  Edition),  2s.  6rf. 

PERCY'S  MASQUE,  a  Drama,  in  five  acts,  foolscap 
Svo.  4s.  fid.  bound 

THE  SLAVE ;  a  Musical  Play,  in  Three  Acts,  by 
THOMAS  MORTON,  Esq.  as  performed  at  the 
Theatre  Royal,  Covent  Garden,  (Second  Edition,) 
2*.  6d. 


An  AUTHENTIC  NARRATIVE  of  Mr.  KEMBLE's 

Retirement  from  the  Stage,  with  a  Biographical  and 
Critical  Essay,  Farewell  Address,  Copy  of  Orna- 
mented Scroll,  Anecdotes — Criticisms,  Tribute  to  a 
departed  Actor,  by  James  Smith,  Esq.  Ode  on  the 
Retirement  of  Mr.  Kemble,  Account  of  the  Dinner, 
Inscription  for  the  Vase,  List  of  the  Company 
present  at  the  Dinner,  Mr.  Campbell's  Ode,  Mr. 
Kemble's  Speech,  &c.  General  Observations,  Mr. 
Kemble's  Literary  Productions,  Poetical  Address, 
by  Walter  Scott,  Esq. 

PLATES. 

Portrait  of  Mr.  Kemble,  from  a  Drawing  made  for  the 
Work,  by  Sir  Thomas  Lawrence— Fac-Simiie  of  Mr. 
Ramble's  Hand-writing— Dinner  ticket  and  Medal. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 

974.8J631L  C001 

LETTERS  FROM  THE  BRITISH  SETTLEMENT  IN  P 


30112025263176 


